The Wine Knows

When Eugene Foote decided to start a winery in south Seattle in 1978, there were just a half-dozen in operation in Washington.

Foote ran his eponymous winery until selling it in 1991 to Sherrill Miller and Rich Higginbotham. By that time, the state had 35 wineries and few imagined Washington ever having more than 100. They moved the operation south to Burien in 1999.

The couple have taken the winery to new heights since, often scoring extremely well in our blind judgings. A favorite is the Rainy Day Red blend, whose label has gotten a terrific makeover in recent months.

On March 27, E.B. Foote will release a 30th anniversary bottling called the Founder's Red, which features a photo of Gene Foote. It will be sold at the winery's Spring Anniversary Celebration

And Gene Foote, who now lives in Arizona, is scheduled to pay a visit for the celebration.