Award Recipients will be Honored at TOAST! Celebration on August 14 at Sparkman Cellars in Woodinville
Seattle, Wash. (June 17 2025) — The Auction of Washington Wines is proud to announce the honorees for the fourth annual TOAST! Awards, recognizing leaders across Washington’s wine industry. This year’s winners include the first person to plant Syrah in Washington, a wine pioneer who planted the first grapes in a now-renowned region, and a former NFL wide receiver. The inspiring lineup of innovators and tastemakers will be celebrated at the TOAST! celebration on Thursday, August 14 at Sparkman Cellars in Woodinville, Washington.
Established by the Auction of Washington Wines in 2022, the TOAST! awards honor industry veterans and emerging leaders who are shaping the future of Washington wine. The honorees are chosen by industry peers through an inclusive nomination process, with a peer committee reviewing submissions and making final determinations.
“The Auction of Washington Wines is honored to celebrate these outstanding leaders whose passion, innovation, and commitment have helped elevate the Washington wine industry,” said Executive Director Jamie Peha, who envisioned TOAST! as a platform to spotlight the people behind the wine. “Their impact is felt across our community and continues to shape the reputation and success of Washington wines on a national and global scale.”
The TOAST! celebration in August brings together acclaimed winemakers, industry leaders, and wine enthusiasts for a meaningful night of toasts, recognition, and camaraderie. The unforgettable evening at Sparkman Cellars will feature a welcome reception with sparkling wine and passed appetizers, award presentations, and a seated four-course dinner prepared by renowned chef John Howie, accompanied by curated Washington wines provided by Ackley Brands. Tickets and information are available at https://auctionofwawines.org/events/toast/.
“We’re proud to sponsor TOAST! and raise a glass to the incredible talent, passion, and grit behind Washington wine. At Ackley Brands, we’re all-in on investing in the people and places that make this region special,” said Brandon Ackley, Founder and President of Ackley Brands.
The full list of recipients includes:
- Lifetime Achievement: Mike Sauer, Red Willow Vineyard. This award recognizes an individual whose extraordinary dedication, inspiration, and advocacy for the Washington wine community spans 25+ years in the industry. Sauer’s career spans 54 years, from when he first planned Red Willow Vineyard in 1971, one of the oldest vineyards in Washington. He worked with Dr. David Clore, experimenting with grape varieties to see what would grow well in the Yakima Valley. Sauer was instrumental in introducing several grape varieties to Washington State, including Syrah, Viognier, Sangiovese, Mourvèdre, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc.
- Award of Distinction: Jim Holmes, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard. This award recognizes a winery, grower representative, or industry professional whose achievements have advanced the caliber of the Washington wine industry. Holmes is a pioneer in Washington wine, planting the first grapes in the Red Mountain AVA with his friend John Williams in 1975. Holmes has been active in Washington wine community organizations and led efforts to pave Red Mountain roads and to bring Yakima River irrigation water to Red Mountain, helping to grow the new AVA, now one of the premier wine-growing regions in the state.
- Healthy Land, Healthy Communities: Marissa Dineen, Dineen Vineyards. For commitment to addressing today’s environmental challenges and developing equitable, viable, and responsible solutions. Dineen likes to say that “Agriculture connects us with the earth, wine connects us with one another,” and her family’s farming practices reflect this belief in connection with the earth. Dineen Vineyards was one of the first wineries in Washington to be certified sustainable under the Lodi Rules and the Sustainable WA program.
- Emerging Leader: For individuals whose contribution, service, or involvement are creating the pathway and/or vision for the future:
- Freddy Arredondo, Cave B Wine Estates. Arredondo started cooking at the age of 13, training his palate in a family restaurant that didn’t have written recipes, and attended culinary school before deciding to become a winemaker. After studying viticulture and enology at Walla Walla Community College, he took over winemaking at Cave B and crafted award-winning wines that elevate the reputation of the region. Arredondo also sits on the board of the Washington Winegrowers Association.
- Kelsey Albro Itämeri, Itä Wines. Albro Itämeri makes minimal intervention wines in the foothills of the Blue Mountains in eastern Walla Walla, a cooler and wetter part of the famous region. She worked in politics, reality TV, and as a bartender before becoming a winemaker. Albro Itämeri said that being honored as an emerging leader “is a wonderful reminder to be as generous to others with my time and knowledge as my mentors have been with me.”
- Sidney Rice & Tim Lenihan, Dossier Wine Collective. Founded in 2021, the Dossier partners developed a clear vision for their brand which looks toward the future of Washington wine. Retired NFL player Sidney Rice grew interested in starting a label when he became enamored with Washington wine during the Covid pandemic. Together, Rice and Lenihan developed a winery team that sources the highest quality grapes and develops a library of balanced wines that showcase the Walla Walla region.
- Vine to Wine: Todd Newhouse, Upland Vineyards. Recognizes an individual who is hands-on in the vineyard, including leading or collaborating with peers. Newhouse was in the inaugural viticulture certification class at Washington State University and co-authored the AVA petition for the Snipes Mountain AVA. On top of growing and managing vineyards, Newhouse serves on many boards, including as chair of the Washington Wine Commission board.
- Wine Industry Champion: Josh McDonald, Washington Wine Institute. This award is for industry related professionals whose cooperative support has positively influenced the success of the Washington wine industry. McDonald has worked as a lobbyist for the hospitality industry in Olympia and Washington, D.C. for over 20 years and is now in his 11th year as the Washington Wine Institute’s Executive Director. He is an expert on the state’s liquor guidelines and rules, and his continuous work is critical to the future of the industry. He helped to modernize the federal excise tax system, saving every winery hundreds to thousands of dollars each year.
- Auction of Washington Wines Star: Stacy and Greg Lill, Chateau Lill. This award recognizes a donor, organization, or individual whose commitment significantly advanced the Auction of Washington Wines’ mission of uplifting the Washington wine industry and supporting the community. From serving as co-chairs to hosting events and donating some of the Auction’s most memorable lots, the Lills have been stalwart supporters of the Auction of Washington Wines for over 20 years. Greg and Stacy both have storied business and philanthropic careers, and together they operate the Family Estate at Chateau Lill, where they feature bottles of Lill Family Wines.
Limited seats are available. Learn more and secure your tickets today at https://auctionofwawines.org/events/toast/.
The presenting sponsor of this year’s TOAST! celebration is Ackley Brands and the select sponsor is Trysk Print Solutions. TOAST! is made possible with additional generous support of Colangelo & Partners, Tonnellerie Quintessence, Saxco International, Sean P. Sullivan’s Northwest Wine Report, the Washington Wine Commission, and Wine Glass Marketing.
ABOUT AUCTION OF WASHINGTON WINES
The Auction of Washington Wines is a nonprofit organization that supports the growth and raises awareness of the Washington wine industry while benefiting the greater community through annual fundraising events. Proceeds benefit Seattle Children’s Uncompensated Care programs as well as hospital clinics in Eastern Washington, Washington State University’s viticulture & enology program to support crucial wine industry research initiatives, and VITAL Wines, a nonprofit winery dedicated to providing accessible healthcare to vineyard workers and their families. The auction has raised $68 million since its inception in 1988. Key supporters for 2025 include Ackley Brands, Chateau Ste. Michelle, the John L. Scott Foundation, PNC Bank, and the Seattle Times. For more information visit auctionofwawines.org. Follow the Auction of Washington Wines on social media @auctionwawines on Instagram and Facebook @AuctionofWAWines.
