The year was 1988. Rain Man was the talk of Hollywood, UB40’s “Red Red Wine” was on every radio, and Nike was inspiring the world to “Just Do It.” Here in Washington, a small group of wine pioneers was creating something that would leave a lasting mark on the state’s wine industry and community: the Auction of Washington Wines Gala.

Nearly four decades later, you’re invited to return to where it all began.

Join us at the historic Chateau Ste Michelle winery’s Manor House—the very birthplace of the Gala—and become part of the story. Celebrate 40 years of Washington wine, philanthropy, and the people who helped build both. For this milestone 40th Anniversary celebration, the experience is elevated even further with an extraordinarily rare culinary collaboration: James Beard Award-winning Chef Holly Smith and the renowned Café Juanita team will take the kitchen beyond their acclaimed restaurant for a one-night-only, bespoke dinner. 

With attendance limited to just 40 guests, this intimate experience offers a rare opportunity to step inside Washington wine history. Throughout the evening, you’ll taste exceptional wines spanning four decades from some of the state’s founding and most celebrated wineries, including Leonetti Cellar, Woodward Canyon Winery, and L’Ecole No 41. Along the way, you’ll hear the stories behind the vintages, the visionaries who shaped the industry, and the moments that helped establish Washington as one of the world’s premier wine regions.

More than a dinner, Forty for Forty is a tribute to the people, partnerships, and passion that have fueled the Washington wine community since 1988. It is a chance to celebrate the legacy of the past while raising a glass to the future.

Cheers to 40 years and the next chapter yet to be written.