Washington State’s Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center
Receives $16,000 From 2009 Moteur de Vine Benefit Motorcycle Ride

Prosser, Wash. – Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center, sole beneficiary of funds generated by the annual Moteur de Vine benefit ride, received $16,000 from the 2009 event.  Now in its second year, the ride provides participants a close-up look at Washington State’s grape-growing regions known as American Viticultural Areas (AVA). Created by wine industry veterans Bill denHoed and Scott Pontin, the 2008 inaugural ride through the Yakima Valley, Horse Heaven Hills and Red Mountain AVAs raised $12,500 for the Clore Center.

The ride was so well received by wine enthusiasts that a shuttle bus was added to the 2009 event to accommodate non-riders. This year’s participants enjoyed a fun and informative day exploring wineries and vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA including lunch at North Star Winery prepared by Chef Frank Magana, a rare tasting at Leonetti Cellar and an evening of festivities hosted by Dunham Cellars. Plans are underway for the 2010 ride scheduled for Saturday the 19^th of June to explore the State’s newest AVA, Lake Chelan. 

Education is at the core of Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center’s mission – a must-see learning center that promotes regional wine and food by actively engaging visitors to learn, experience and appreciate the quality and diversity of the region’s wine and food products.  The ride is an extension of this mission by connecting wine enthusiasts with the many talented hands behind each of the State’s wine growing regions to experience first-hand what makes them exceptional.

Following is a photo of Moteur de Vine Committee members presenting a donation ‘check’ in the amount of $16,000 to the Clore Center. Pictured, left to right, are Bud Mercer, Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center, with committee members Scott Pontin, Dick Beightol and Bill denHoed. Not pictured: Frank Magaña, Lynne Chamberlain and Kathy Corliss.

For Release August 13, 2009                                                       

Washington State’s Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center
Awards Infrastructure Construction Bid
Site Development to Begin August 2009 and
Ready for Outdoor Events Spring 2010  

Prosser, Wash. – August 12, 2009 – Site development is underway at the future home of the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center located on a 23-acre site adjacent to the Yakima River, just off of I-82, in the heart of Columbia Valley wine country. In July, the Board of Directors unanimously awarded the infrastructure construction bid to Premier Excavation of Richland, Washington.

An Economic Development Initiative Grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds this phase of construction to include excavating and leveling the site, paving the parking area, extending all utilities, installing overhead lighting, hydro-seeding the outdoor event area and limited landscaping.  The site, scheduled to be available for outdoor events beginning spring 2010, will be the new home of the Prosser Wine and Food Fair and setting for the 2010 Legends of Washington Wine Gala.

Plans for construction of the main facility will move forward with the success of a pending application for $2.5 million from the Federal Economic Development Administration Public Works Grant program and a $100,000 grant from Benton County in addition to $3.9 million committed public and private funds.

The Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center, a tribute to the late Dr. Walter J. Clore, Father of the Washington Wine Industry, will be a centrally located, must-see learning center that promotes regional wine and food by actively engaging visitors to learn, experience and appreciate the quality and diversity of the region’s wine and food products.