The Tasting of a Lifetime

A Private, Collector-Level Dinner for Eight at Surrell Featuring 
the Upchurch Family’s Personal Wine Library  

Indulge in a rare and highly personal evening that unlocks a level of access few collectors ever experience. This dinner is not assembled from a list or portfolio—it is drawn directly from the private cellar of Chris and Thea Upchurch, with bottles chosen for both their provenance and the stories they carry. Opportunities to encounter wines of this caliber in such a thoughtfully hosted setting are exceedingly limited, and almost never available beyond a close circle. Designed for just eight guests, the experience emphasizes depth, intimacy, and genuine connection—to the hosts, the chef, and the wines themselves. As the evening unfolds at Surrell, James Beard Award Best Chef finalist Aaron Tekulve’s deeply personal approach to cuisine creates a setting where every detail feels considered, immersive, and quietly extraordinary. Each element, from the pacing to the pairings, reflects a level of care reserved for the most discerning private gatherings. This is not simply a dinner, but an invitation into a private world—where access, hospitality, and craftsmanship converge in a way that cannot be replicated. 

THIS LOT INCLUDES: 

      ★ Join Chris and Thea Upchurch for an extraordinary nine-course dinner for eight, featuring iconic, museum-worthy wines, drawn exclusively from their personal library – bottles rarely, if ever, poured publicly

      • Featuring highlighted selections from the Upchurch private cellar including:  
        • 1976 Krug (Champagne) – a rare, late-disgorged vintage Champagne, representing the pinnacle of Krug’s cellaring philosophy  
        • 1976 Domaine de La Romanée‑Conti La Tâche (Grand Cru) — one of Burgundy’s most revered and powerful wines 
        • 1977 Taylor’s Vintage Port — an iconic, long-lived Port of remarkable structure and aromatic depth, a true collector’s benchmark 
        • 1982 Château Mouton Rothschild — a perfect-score First Growth from one of Bordeaux’s most legendary vintages 
        • 1997 Ornellaia — a beautifully mature Super Tuscan, known for its seamless texture, aromatic complexity, and refined Mediterranean character 
        • 2000 Château Pavie (Premier Grand Cru Classé A) — a monumental, 100-point Saint‑Émilion 
        • 2003 Châteauneuf‑du‑Pape — a richly textured Rhône Valley classic, expressive of ripe fruit, spice, and powerful complexity 
        • 2008 Musigny, Domaine Jacques Prieur (Grand Cru) — from one of the Côte de Nuits’ most exalted sites, offering floral elegance, depth, and exceptional length 
        • 2012 Château Margaux — an elegant and finely structured First Growth, offering remarkable balance, purity, and aging potential 
      • Each wine is paired course-by-course with dishes crafted by Aaron Tekulve of Surrell, one of Washington’s most celebrated chefs and a James Beard Award finalist 
      • Thoughtfully designed as a shared collector experience, this evening blends rare access, exceptional cuisine, and unforgettable wines into a singular event that cannot be replicated
      • Enjoy private chauffeured transportation by Butler for seamless door-to-door service for each couple, with up to four private town cars dispatched to guests’ homes for arrival at Surrell and a relaxed journey home at the conclusion of the evening
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        THANK YOU: Chris and Thea Upchurch, Upchurch Vineyard, Surrell, Butler Transportation 

        Restrictions: Dinner to be held on mutually agreeable date. 

        ★ = A feature that money can’t buy

        AUCTION OF WASHINGTON WINES

        2200 6th Ave Suite 411
        Seattle, WA 98121
        (206) 741-0212

        aww@aoww.org

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