Partnership with Zachys Auction House will Feature 64 Exclusive Lots
Willamette Valley, Oregon – March 23, 2023 – Returning for its second year, the Willamette Valley Wineries Association (WVWA) Collectors’ Auction will partner with Zachys Wine Auctions to sell 64 exclusive lots–spanning 22 years, 73 producers and the entire Willamette Valley. The Auction will take place online, beginning on March 28 and concluding with a live-streamed auction on April 6, 2023 beginning at 3:00 p.m.(PST). The live auction will be led by Charles Antin, Head of Wine Auction Sales at Zachys.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Zachys again to offer cellar-worthy lots to collectors around the world,” said WVWA Executive Director Morgen McLaughlin, adding, “Willamette Valley wines are remarkably ageworthy, and the wineries collaborating on this auction have put together an impressive selection of lots and experiences for bidders to enjoy.”
Collectors browsing the Auction catalog will find such impressive gems as a five-case custom Ponzi Vineyards Pinot noir blend made by the winning bidder alongside winemaker Luisa Ponzi, a magnum vertical of Soter Vineyards Mineral Spring Ranch Pinot noir, and perfectly-aged large formats from producers like Bethel Heights, Ken Wright Cellars, and Evening Land.
The wine lots also include experiences at the wineries, like a two-night stay for two at Willamette Valley Bed & Breakfast to accompany the ROCO Marsh Pinot noir magnum vertical, or horseback riding through the vineyard with Sokol Blosser or Winter’s Hill.
As is fitting in a region anchored by collaboration, several producers have grouped together to offer collaborative lots including the Worden Hill Wonders from seven neighboring wineries, a 12-bottle Pinot noir horizontal library retrospective of the 2016 vintage that also includes a celebratory Chardonnay magnum, VIP tastings at all of the wineries, and an overnight stay at The Dundee Hotel. A complete listing of Collectors’ Auction lots is available here.
Powered by Zachys, the world’s top wine auction house, the Willamette Valley Collectors’ Auction opens for online bidding Tuesday, March 28 and ends with a live close on Thursday, April 6 beginning at 3:00 p.m. (PST).
To kick off the bidding, Samantha Cole Johnson, Pacific Northwest specialist for JancisRobinson.com, will lead a seminar on Monday, March 28 featuring a star-studded panel of winemakers in a conversation about age-ability of Willamette Valley wines. Learn more and register for this seminar here. All proceeds from the Willamette Valley Collectors’ Auction benefit programs to promote, preserve and advance the prestige of Oregon’s Willamette Valley AVA and its wines. The Auction is open to all who wish to bid. Learn more.
About the Willamette Valley Wineries Association
The WVWA is a nonprofit industry association dedicated to achieving recognition for Oregon’s acclaimed Willamette Valley as a premium Pinot noir-producing region. The WVWA has more than 300 members representing wineries, tasting rooms, hospitality and vineyards throughout the Willamette Valley. The organization also hosts Willamette: The Pinot Noir Auction, Oregon Pinot Camp, Pinot in the City, May in Wine Country, The Giving Season and the Cellar Season. Visit willamettewines.com for more information.
