CARNATION, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Washington Wines Festival is arguably the region’s hottest wine bash, and this year it will take place at one of the Northwest’s most breathtaking unsung venues—the 818-acre Carnation Farm, in Carnation, Wash. The weekend of fantastic food, world class music, unique experiences (from yoga to fly fishing), and, of course, the best wine Washington state has to offer, will take place July 11-12, 2008. Details and registration information are available at Washington Wines Festival's website.

With a steering committee that includes some of the biggest names in Washington wine, including Tom and Anne-Marie Hedges, Allen Shoup, Rick and Darcey Small, Ted Baseler, Chris Figgins, and Paul Gregutt, the 2008 Washington Wines Festival is celebrating its 17th year in style, complete with entertainment by Vince Gill, Amy Grant and Lisa Loeb. The event proceeds will benefit Camp Korey as well as Hole in the Wall Camps and the Washington Wine Education Foundation.

What makes 2008 unique is Camp Korey and the Rose family. Carnation Farm is the future home of Camp Korey, a camp for children with serious illnesses. On July 21, Camp Korey will welcome its first campers. Camp Korey is currently working with the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps to meet the necessary requirements for becoming a member of the family of camps. It will be the eleventh Hole in the Wall Camp in the world.

“Our goal this year is to considerably elevate the Washington Wines Festival to help the kids have a safe, friendly, and medically supportive place to enjoy a break,” said Jim Rose, the Washington Wines Festival auction chairman. “All the children that will come to Camp Korey, or any Hole in the Wall Camp, have one thing in common—they all have a serious or life-threatening condition. But at Camp Korey they will just be kids.”

Camp Korey was started by Tim Rose, brother of 2008 auction chairman Jim Rose. Tim Rose lost his 18 year-old son in 2004 to cancer. He learned about Hole in the Wall Camps after watching a video shown to him by executives from Newman’s Own. The joy he saw the kids experience led Tim to start Camp Korey in his son’s honor. Tim’s passion and hard work also inspired Jim Rose to take on raising funds for the cause.

Tim Rose has been working on the purchase of Camp Korey for two years. Last summer, the camp board announced its purchase of the historic Carnation Farm from Nestlé. The 2008 Washington Wines Festival will be Camp Korey’s first major fundraiser. Hole in the Wall Camps are the dream of actor Paul Newman, who started the first camp in 1988. Today, Hole in the Wall Camps is the world’s largest family of camps for children with serious illnesses and life-threatening conditions.

“Although this wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of Paul Newman and the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps, Camp Korey will largely be purchased using funds donated by generous individuals from our local community,” said Tim Rose. “These wonderful contributions will also pay the operating expense of the camp, which will be about $3 million dollars per year. The Wines Festival allows people to financially support Camp Korey while enjoying a one-of-a-kind summer experience.”

Attendees at this year’s Washington Wines Festival will be treated to a mind-boggling weekend of festivities and relaxation. Guests will arrive Friday afternoon and have their cars valet parked for the weekend. From check-in, they will be chauffeured via antique cars to their quarters. Antique cars are being donated for the weekend by the LeMay America’s Car Museum, one of the world’s largest collections of classic cars, which will soon have a permanent home at the $100 million America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Wash.

2008 Honorees, Alex and Jeanette Golitzin of Quilceda Creek Vintners will be recognized throughout the festival, which begins Friday night as guests are hosted at one of 10 winemaker dinners on the farm grounds. Chefs for the dinners include Ethan Stowell of Union, Tavolata and How to Cook a Wolf; Jason Wilson of Crush; Tom Douglas of Tom Douglas Restaurants; John Howie of Seastar Restaurant and others. Nearly 50 wineries will be participating, including Andrew Will, Betz Family Winery, DeLille Cellars, Hedges Family Estate, L’Ecole No. 41, Leonetti Cellar, Mathews Estate, Quilceda Creek, and Woodward Canyon. Platinum-selling artist Lisa Loeb will perform an intimate acoustic concert featuring music from her new CD, Camp Lisa, following the wine dinners.

On Saturday, guests will be invited to leisurely explore the grounds or participate in an activity. Activities will range from a 5K run to swimming, a Stan Utley PGA professional golf clinic, fly casting lessons, yoga, hiking, softball and bocce. Saturday lunch will take place in the “Sports” barn. The 80,000 square foot barn was once used for hay storage, when the farm was a fully functional dairy epicenter, first for Carnation Brands then for Nestlé.

Saturday night will be the live auction, held in the Hippodrome, an 11,000 square-foot structure initially designed to house equestrian events that has since seen the addition of a wood floor and chandeliers. After the auction, guests will be invited to enjoy a traditional salmon dinner (with the addition of steak!) prepared by Tillicum Village. Auction lots include a 10-night stay at the gated-community of Puunoa Beach Estates in Lahaina, Maui with first class airfare for four; a walk-on role in an upcoming Weinstein Company or Dimensions Films Movie; and a trip to Rancho Mirage, CA via private jet for eight to play four of the nation’s top golf courses, including the ultra-exclusive Porcupine Creek.

After dinner and the auction, Vince Gill and Amy Grant, who collectively have won over 20 Grammy Awards, will perform under the trees and stars beside the Hippodrome on a special stage erected for the occasion. A limited number of tickets are available for this event. The cost to attend for the entire weekend is $2500 per person ($1045 tax deductible). The cost to attend the Saturday auction and concert only is $1000 ($740 tax deductible) per person. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Washington Wines Festival's website or call 206-236-6167.

Info: Vince Gill
Video: Vince Gill