The Wine Knows

It's Spring Release Weekend in the Walla Walla Valley, when thousands descend upon the valley in eastern Washington and Oregon to visit nearly 100 wineries now open to the public.

The genesis of this event lies with Leonetti Cellar, the valley's oldest winery. Since the early 1980s, Leonetti has enjoyed cult-like status, and early May has been when its customers have come to the winery for its annual open house.

I've heard a lot of folks talk about Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen in Walla Walla, Wash., for the past year or so, and I finally had the opportunity to have dinner there last week.

I was not disappointed.

Chateau Ste. Michelle has announced its 2008 summer concert series, its 25th year of offering concerts on the grounds of Washington's oldest winery.

Tickets go on sale this weekend.

Here's the line-up:

Two years ago, Steve Roberts embarked on a journey of Washington wine country. His goal was to create a guidebook that focused on wine tourism. Steve ended up breaking the state into a dozen regions and 32 "wine trails," basically a touring guide.

If you're one of the thousands coming to Eastern Washington this weekend for Yakima Valley Spring Barrel Tasting Weekend, it's good to have strategies. Here are a few to consider.

After a two-year absence, the Maryhill Winery concert series is back. Renovations and highway construction forced the destination winery in the Columbia Gorge to not hold it concerts in 2005 and 2006.

The 4,000-seat amphitheater next to the winery overlooks the Columbia River with stunning views of the Columbia Gorge and Mount Hood.

With entirely too little fanfare, the amazing Shoalwater Restaurant in little Seaview, Wash., served its final meal last weekend.

After 28 years in the historic Shelburne Inn on Washington's Long Beach Peninsula, owners Tony and Ann Kischner have closed the Shoalwater to focus on their new operation, the Bridgewater Bistro in nearby Astoria, Ore.

Sinclair Philip, the force behind the fabulous Sooke Harbour House, also is a national leader in Canada's Slow Food movement.

Eric Degerman, Wine Press Northwest managing editor, sat down recently with Philip to talk about the Sooke Harbour House, Slow Food and a number of other subjects. Watch the interview here:

The Vintner Village, a 12-acre stretch of land just off Interstate 82 in the middle of Washington's Yakima Valley, is pretty well sold out, so the Port of Benton is looking to expand by purchasing an adjacent 18 acres for $1.1 million.

Col Solare on Washington's Red Mountain has produced a sole wine per vintage since starting the Opus One-like operation in 1994, a Cab-based blend that retails for $70. That will change with the release of a second label called Shining Hill.

Col Solare is the international collaboration between Ste. Michelle Wine Estates of Woodinville, Wash., and Marchese Antinori of Tuscany. A year ago, the new $6 million winery opened on Red Mountain.