Chateau Ste. Michelle Partners with Northwest Restaurants to Support Viticulture & Enology Programs at Washington Universities

Woodinville, Wash. – Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville, Wash. is partnering with Washington and Oregon restaurants to support the second annual “Raise a Glass, Fund a Scholarship” program to benefit Viticulture and Enology programs at Washington State University. In Oregon, Chateau Ste. Michelle will join Erath Winery of Dundee and Oregon restaurants in supporting Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences program. Nearly 200 restaurants in Washington and Oregon are participating in the Raise A Glass, Fund a Scholarship program, which runs through the end of December 2009. The list of participating restaurants is available at www.ste-michelle.com.

“It is extremely rewarding to have our local Northwest restaurant communities help us support the future growers and winemakers of the Pacific Northwest,” says Ste. Michelle Wine Estates president Ted Baseler. “These local Viticulture and Enology programs are critical for the Northwest wine industry to continue to produce world-class, internationally renowned wines.”

Chateau Ste. Michelle and Erath wineries will donate $3 per case sold to participating restaurants (up to $50,000) to help fund the Viticulture and Enology programs at Washington State University, Oregon State University and affiliated community colleges throughout the Northwest. The money raised together will fund scholarships, research, faculty and equipment.

Last year Chateau Ste. Michelle kicked off the inaugural program in which a portion of wine sales was contributed to the Washington State University Viticulture and Enology program. A total of 123 restaurants joined the effort raising $40,000. This year the program is being expanded to include Oregon restaurants raising money for Oregon State University.

The Washington wine industry is the second largest premium wine producer in the country with 650 plus wineries, 350 plus wine grape growers, employing 19,000 full-time workers. Oregon has evolved into a world-class growing state with 15 approved winegrowing regions, and more than 300 wineries producing wine from 72 grape varieties.