WOODINVILLE, Wash. — The Auction of Washington Wines, one of the top five charitable wine auctions in the U.S., has named Stacy Buchanan, the Blood of Gods publisher and Walla Walla festival promoter, as a recipient for one of its Emerging Leader awards.
This year marks the 37th annual Auction of Washington Wines, and the presentation to Buchanan will be part of the third annual TOAST! Honoree Celebration on Thursday, Aug. 8 at Sparkman Cellars in Woodinville.
The festive Winemaker Picnic & Barrel Auction — with the auction component sponsored by Seattle author/wine merchant Paul Zitarelli and his Full Pull Wines — is Friday, Aug. 9 on the campus of Château Ste. Michelle in Woodinville, followed by the auction’s signature Gala on Saturday, Aug. 10. The Gala Online Auction begins Tuesday, Aug. 6 and runs through Aug. 10. Money raised helps support Seattle Children’s, the Washington State University viticulture and enology program and grant partner Vital Wines in the Walla Walla Valley.
The Auction of Washington Wines began its TOAST! program in 2022, and the 2023 recipients are listed here.
For the second consecutive year, the nine TOAST! recipients will be revealed this week via GreatNorthwestWine.com.
Monday — TOAST! Vine to Wine Award: Eduardo Enriquez, Corliss Estates
Monday — TOAST! Healthy Land, Healthy Communities Award: Kiona Vineyards and Winery
Monday — TOAST! Award of Distinction: Markus Keller, Washington State University
Tuesday — TOAST! Emerging Leader: Jordan Small, Woodward Canyon Winery
Tuesday — TOAST! Emerging Leader: Matías Kúsulas, Gård Vintners/Desert Wind Winery/Massalto/Valo
Tuesday — TOAST! Emerging Leader: Stacy Buchanan, Blood of Gods
Wednesday — TOAST! Wine Industry Champion: Chris Stone, Washington State Wine Commission
Wednesday — Auction of Washington Wines Star Award: Richard Duval, WinePix
Wednesday — TOAST! Lifetime Achievement Award: Rick Small and Darcey Fugman-Small, Woodward Canyon Winery
Previously announced honorees for the 2024 Auction of Washington Wines include Leslie Sbrocco (Honorary Chair), Christophe Baron of Bionic Wines (Honorary Vintner) and Robert Rivera of Goose Ridge Estate Vineyard (Honorary Grower). Co-chairs are Laura and Ian MacNeil with John and Deanna Oppenheimer.
“We are delighted to recognize these outstanding individuals for their substantial contributions to the Washington wine industry,” says Jamie Peha, executive director of the Auction of Washington Wines since 2019. “Their dedication, innovation and passion have been instrumental in shaping the success and reputation of the region as a whole.”
Sponsors of the TOAST Honoree Celebration include Republic National Distributing Co., Saxco, Woodinville Wine Country, Washington State Wine Commission, Château Ste. Michelle and Trysk Print Solutions.
The Emerging Leader Award is designed to recognize those whose contributions, service or involvement within the Washington wine industry are creating pathways and providing a vision for the future. Buchanan refers to himself as part publisher, producer and event promoter who is “a one-man hype machine, with a preacher’s passion to bridge not hearts to God, but wine to heavy metal music.”
In spring 2020, the fifth-generation Walla Walla Valley native began publishing Blood of Gods Magazine twice a year. Then came Merrymaking — a festival of art, music and wine in downtown Walla Walla. The third edition of Merrymaking will be staged this year Saturday, July 20 at The Motor Co.
There’s no doubt Buchanan has tapped into an audience, and he describes his approach as “a gift for uniting people and ideas across backgrounds and industries, attracting awards, accolades and pilgrims along the way.”
Early supporters include Paul Grieco, the irreverent chef and owner of famous New York City wine bar Terroir who attended Buchanan’s first Merrymaking.
“This is the crowd and demographic the wine industry is jonesing for,” said Grieco, twice a James Beard Award winner for his work showcasing wine — including his annual Summer of Riesling celebration.
Buchanan’s free-to-the-public seminar that kicks off the 2024 Merrymaking will feature Justin Moore, a Master Sommelier from the District of Columbia, and international wine critic Anthony Mueller, formerly a contributor to Michelin-owned Wine Advocate.
Outreach and innovation earned Buchanan a spot among Wine Enthusiast’s Future 40 Tastemakers of 2023, a group the magazine’s editors applauded for efforts on behalf of an industry dealing with unprecedented uncertainty and Neo-Prohibition.
“Advocacy for including people of all backgrounds in an industry that is struggling to find its footing in appealing beyond a traditional base as well as advocacy for the environment, advocacy for each other and advocacy for workers in the hospitality industry on which they all, in one way or another, depend,” they wrote.
Last year, Buchanan led Imbibe Magazine readers on a tour of the Walla Walla Valley craft beverage scene, and the publication’s “Imbibe 75” list views him among those who “will inspire the way we all drink in the year to come.” Recent speaking engagements on behalf of the wine industry took him to New Zealand and gave him a platform at Taste Washington. At the Seattle festival earlier this year, the seminar he played a part in was titled, Boundary Breakers: Washington’s Founding Icons and Modern Mavericks.
Next year, there are plans for the book he is working on to be published.
According to Buchanan, “It’s clear that the mission continues, and the show goes on.”
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