February 27 thru March 5, 2006

This is a week-long series of seminars, social functions, lunches, dinners and wine tastings at various venues in Vancouver, British Columbia. I always attend the International Wine Tasting - which takes place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening (March 2, 3 and 4) - because it features so many great wines from around the world.

For more information on getaway packages and ticket purchases go to www.playhousewinefest.com. Early bird prices on several events are available until January 31, 2006. Many events sell out early so don’t delay…this is truly an amazing opportunity for wine enthusiasts!

2:00 to 4:30 pm - Beginning Wine Tasting. The perfect class for those just getting started with wines. The format will be relaxed, yet informative, with plenty of wines to sample. No wine snob attitudes permitted! Click on the Wine Classes Page for more information.

I’d like to close out the year by acknowledging the scores of smaller wineries in the Pacific Northwest.

I always struggle with how to classify these wineries. Mom and Pop operation sounds like a casual hobby that got out of control. Boutique winery gives the impression of something inaccessible and standoffish. I think “handcrafted” fits the bill. It lets consumers know that the winery pays attention to small details and provides a product that can compete with the high volume production of larger operations.

A perfect example is Hightower Cellars, located in Eastern Washington’s Red Mountain appellation. Husband and wife Tim and Kelly Hightower literally run the entire winemaking process from start to finish. They’re also wonderful hosts and you’ll be hard pressed to find a nicer pair of people in the wine business.

Last month a group of friends and I paid them a visit. We spent almost two hours barrel tasting, sampling new releases and chatting with them about the fall crush. This is the kind of service that only a smaller winery can provide and it’s one of the things that makes taking a wine tasting tour so enjoyable.

New releases include the 2003 Murray Cuvee Red Wine (about $16), named for the Hightower’s Yellow Labrador and the 2003 Walla Walla Blend (about $22). Also currently available are the 2003 Merlot (about $23), a big wine loaded with dark cherry flavors and the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon (about $31) which is drinking awfully well right now. It also displays cherry fruit with subtle tannins and a velvety finish.

Quantities are limited but they can usually be found locally at the Fairhaven Food Pavilion, Community Food Co-op and the newly opened Purple Smile at 1143 11th Street. More information: www.hightowercellars.com.

I’ll be hosting a wine tasting event at the Zephyr Bistro on Bellwether Way in Bellingham from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. Included in the tasting will be a selection of gold medal winners from this years Tri-Cities Wine Festival. Cost will be $10 per person.

Any time is a good time to enjoy champagne and sparkling wines, but as we approach New Year’s Eve even more people seem to pop the cork on a bottle or two as a matter of tradition. If that’s the case for you, let me suggest a couple of selections from a Pacific Northwest winery that should help enhance any festive occasion.

Mountain Dome Winery, located near Spokane, has been producing some very nice sparkling wines since 1984. I met with owner/winemaker Michael Manz at his production facility last September. It’s about 30 minutes north of Spokane in a fairly isolated location, but well worth the drive.

Along with his son, Erik, Manz has taken the art of sparkling winemaking and, with years of experience, crafted it to near perfection. The end result: remarkable sparkling wines at reasonable prices that are comparable to champagnes costing several dollars more.

My current recommendations include the Non-Vintage Brut (about $15). It has plenty of apple flavors and a nice, crisp finish. This is a great “everyday” sparkler that is well distributed and easy to spot…just look for the gnomes on the label.

Also notable is the Non-Vintage Cuvee Forte (about $27) which displays generous green apple flavors followed by toasted caramel and a yeasty, creamy finish. Exquisite and delicious.

More information: www.mountiandome.com or phone (509) 928-BRUT.