The Wine Knows

I wrote an item last week about wine-flavored ice cream and the need for niche products related to the Northwest wine industry.

Here are three I have heard about since:

-- Tagaris Winery serves a Syrah sorbet at its restaurant in Richland, Wash. Its kitchen staff also uses the lees from barrels to make Syrah- and Cabernet-flavored salts that are served with cheese platters.

-- A new Prosser, Wash., company called ApresVin is making the state's first cold-pressed varietal grape-seed oils from Washington grapes. The oils are available at Oil & Vinegar in Bellevue Square. No word on what varieties are used.

-- Rick Longabaugh of Centralia, Wash., has started a company called Vineyard Woodworking, in which he produces wine-themed custom furniture. The woodwork is amazingly intricate and beautiful. His phone is 360-520-5862. Check out this wine-themed table.