November 17, 2025 (Snohomish, WA) — Paul Golitzin, President of Washington State-based Quilceda Creek, one of the most iconic family-owned producers of Cabernet Sauvignons in the world, is pleased to announce that the winery raised an astounding $335,000 to benefit the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) through its recent library release fundraising campaign. The funds will support CRI’s mission to bring lifesaving cancer immunotherapy treatments closer to patients everywhere.
“We have our loyal private members to thank for this incredible fundraising effort,” says Golitzin. “We had an ambitious goal of raising $250,000, and the fact that we exceeded this by leaps and bounds was beyond our wildest expectations during a time when giving is tight. Our members stocked up on rare and limited releases of our Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignons dating back to 2015 to support CRI.”
Founded in 1978, Quilceda Creek is among Washington State’s most celebrated family-owned wineries and has garnered more 100-point scores from leading critics on its Cabernet Sauvignons than nearly any other American producer. For this special release, Quilceda Creek made a limited number of highly sought-after library wines available to the public, with 50% of every bottle sold benefiting CRI. Typically, its wines are allocated exclusively to members of the private mailing list, making this offer only the second of its kind in the winery’s 48-year history.
“This campaign has been deeply meaningful to my family and our winery team,” adds General Manager Scott Lloyd. “My father is the president emeritus of a national cancer foundation, so I’ve known for a long time how cutting-edge medical advances developed by organizations like CRI positively impact people affected by cancer. We’re inspired by CRI’s incredible work and grateful to our private members who helped make this contribution possible.”
Since its founding in 1953, CRI has been at the forefront of advancing cancer immunotherapy by empowering scientists, illuminating biological breakthroughs, and harnessing the power of data. A consistently ranked top-rated nonprofit with a four-star, 100% rating from Charity Navigator, CRI brings together researchers, funders, and patients to drive progress toward a world immune to cancer.
“We’re deeply grateful to Quilceda Creek for their incredible generosity and partnership. Their commitment to excellence—in winemaking and in giving—mirrors the passion and precision that drive cancer immunotherapy research forward,” says Alicia Zhou, PhD, CEO of CRI. “This remarkable gift will help fuel discoveries that bring new hope to patients everywhere.”
This donation speaks to Quilceda Creek and the Golitzin family’s core value of giving back. In 2020, the winery donated $365,000 to the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund to support hospitality workers during the COVID-19 pandemic with its first-ever library release, and in 2022, contributed $365,000 to World Central Kitchen towards the organization’s “Chefs for Ukraine” program through the sale of a never before made duo of white wines—Quilceda Blanc and Quilceda Creek Horse Heaven Hills Sauvignon Blanc. ”We think of ourselves as ‘the little winery that could,'” says Lloyd of the 10-person team. “Since 2020 our initiatives have raised more than $1 million towards efforts that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”
The Golitzin family also supports numerous charities annually by donating wine that helps raise essential funds for non-profit organizations.
For more information about Quilceda Creek, please visit https://www.quilcedacreek.com/
For more information about the Cancer Research Institute, please visit https://www.cancerresearch.
About Quilceda Creek
Quilceda Creek was established in 1978 by Alex and Jeannette Golitzin. The winery’s first vintage was in 1979, making Quilceda Creek the 12th-oldest winery in Washington after Prohibition. Alex Golitzin’s inspiration to start the winery was nurtured through many visits to the Napa Valley in his youth, where he spent time with his maternal uncle, André Tchelistcheff, the legendary Napa Valley winemaker known as the “Dean of American Winemaking.” Paul Golitzin joined his father as winemaker in 1992 and as president of the company today, directs all aspects of vineyard management and winemaking. With a gifted palate and a no-compromise commitment to quality, Paul focused the winery’s attention on its greatest assets: the vineyards of the Columbia Valley. Quilceda Creek wines are an expression of four vineyards: Champoux, Galitzine, Mach One, and Galitzine-Ad Astra. In early 2022, Quilceda Creek welcomed Mark Kaigas as winemaker.
About Cancer Research Institute
The Cancer Research Institute (CRI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the field of cancer immunotherapy through rigorous scientific research and global collaboration. Since 1953, CRI has been instrumental in uncovering the fundamental biology of the immune system and its application to cancer treatment, laying the groundwork for breakthroughs such as checkpoint blockade, cancer vaccines, and engineered cell therapies. To date, CRI has committed over $560 million to research impacting more than 30 cancer types. The organization’s funding strategy is built on the framework of People × Biology × Data: supporting world-class scientists, deepening understanding of tumor-immune system interactions, and harnessing data to guide discovery and translation. By uniting these elements, CRI catalyzes innovation through its global research ecosystem to drive the next generation of discoveries forward.
