Auction of Washington Wines Names Charlie Hoppes of Fidélitas Wines as Honorary Vintner and Marshall Edwards of Quintessence Vineyards as Honorary Grower During WA Wine Month

SEATTLE (March 19, 2018) – Today the Auction of Washington Wines (AWW) announced its honorees who exemplify leadership in the industry and who’ve made significant contributions to the Washington wine community. AWW is recognizing Charlie Hoppes of Fidélitas Wines as Honorary Vintner and Marshall Edwards of Quintessence Vineyards as Honorary Grower in 2018. These honorary positions are peer-nominated and reserved for leaders who deeply invest in and positively impact the Washington wine community.

“Charlie and Marshall both reflect what makes the Washington wine community so special,” said Shelley Tomberg, Executive Director of AWW. “Their sincerity in building relationships is inspiring, and it results in top-notch, innovative, premium Washington wines that influence the industry on a global scale.”

Charlie Hoppes, 2018 Honorary Vintner
Charlie Hoppes fell in love with winemaking while he was working as an engineer. After graduating from the Viticulture and Enology program at University of California Davis, he worked alongside leading winemakers at Chateau Ste. Michelle before launching his own label, Fidélitas, in 2000. Today, Charlie focuses the Fidélitas portfolio on the Red Mountain AVA and handcrafts a variety of Bordeaux-styled red and white wines. The diversity found in the 4,040 acres of the Red Mountain AVA gives Fidélitas all it needs to assemble the wines that reflect the entire region. As of last year, Charlie has completed thirty harvests in Washington and isn’t planning to slow down anytime soon.

Marshall Edwards, 2018 Honorary Grower
Marshall Edwards worked at a wheat ranch and didn’t expect to end up in the wine industry, but his farming expertise led him to Chateau Ste. Michelle where he worked for seventeen years. Today, Marshall is the Vineyard Operations Manager at Shaw Vineyards as well as the Manager at Northwest Vineyard Management which oversees Quintessence Vineyards on Red Mountain and Obelisco, a 30-acre vineyard that produces grapes for Doug Long’s Obelisco Estate.

“There are certain people you come across in the industry over the span of your career who just get it,” said Charlie Hoppes, 2018 Honorary Vintner. “Marshall Edwards is one of those people.”
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About the Auction of Washington Wines
Since its inception in 1988, AWW has raised more than $41 million, benefitting Seattle Children’s Hospital and Washington State University Wine Science Research. Events hosted by AWW give wine lovers the chance to support the Washington wine industry and families in our communities around the region. The 2018 Auction of Washington Wines will take place August 16-18, 2018. Major sponsors include Chateau Ste. Michelle, Ferrari of Seattle, The John L. Scott Foundation, The Seattle Times, King 5 TV and Wine Spectator Magazine. For more information, go to www.AuctionofWaWines.org

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Hannah Olson, The Fearey Group
holson@feareygroup.com
206.838.9211

You have holiday wine needs, and we understand that, so we are bringing you TWELVE amazing Washington state wine-focused auction lots online for you to bid on! Whether you want to win the perfect gift, enjoy the wines during the season or stock your cellar, these lots will fit the bill and support a good cause to boot!

Check out the lots our team has hand-selected for you HERE. The auction opens today, and runs through December 6th.

Bid high, bid often, and good luck! You know we’re rooting for you.

The Auction of Washington Wines is proud to be a part of the Top US Charity Wine Auction list released by Wine Spectator Magazine for 2016.

The Auction of Washington Wines is pleased to announce the lineup of honorees for its 30th anniversary weekend of events August 17-19, 2017. Sparkman Cellars is Honorary Vintner, Tom Merkle is Honorary Grower and Thomas Matthews, Executive Editor of Wine Spectator, is the 2017 Honorary Chair.