For many of us, fear of the unknown is a frequent deterrent to purchasing a new type of wine. Let’s face it, who wants to spend $20 to $30 on a bottle of wine without at least giving it a try to see if it passes the taste test?

I have a suggestion to help minimize this risk while keeping your cost relatively low – visit a local restaurant or wine bar and try a glass before making your final purchase.

Bellingham has a number of establishments that offer good wine lists with plenty of choices. One of my favorites is The Temple Bar, located at 306 West Champion Street. Owner Chelsea Farmer currently recommends the Brandborg Winery 2006 Pinot Noir ($8 a glass) from Oregon’s Umpqua Valley.

She notes that although it’s a lighter-bodied wine, “it has a lot of personality, with good fruit, and it resembles a nice French Pinot.” I liked the wine’s cranberry and pomegranate flavors, nicely balanced with hints of toasted oak on the finish.

Another good wine list can be found at The Big Fat Fish Co. restaurant at 1304 12th Street in Fairhaven (pictured at left). During a recent visit I tried two terrific California wines that are available by the glass.

First, the Gloria Ferrer 2006 Carneros Chardonnay ($11 a glass), a big, yet elegant wine loaded with flavors of pear and baked apple and capped by a touch of spicy oak.

Second, the Incognito 2006 Rouge ($12 a glass), a sultry, seductive mourvedre-based red wine blend with layers of smoke, black cherry, blueberry and a silky, yet spicy finish.

A couple of added bonuses – you can preview the restaurant’s wine list by visiting www.bigfatfishco.com. And if you’re there during happy hour from 3:00 to 6:00 pm daily, every wine by the glass is available for only $5.

The first time I visited Oregon wine country about 15 years ago, I came away thinking, is that all there is? It seemed as if there was plenty of pinot noir, and a few good white wines, but nothing that you could really sink your teeth into, like a big, full-bodied Washington cabernet.

Since then, I’ve revisited Oregon and Oregon wines several times, and the variety, complexity, and quality have increased significantly.

Girardet Wine Cellars 2007 Grand Rouge from Southern Oregon, an amazing little wine that’s probably best described as a French Rhone with a Northwest twist.

It’s quite smoky, with touches of red currant and dried cherry flavors, brisk acidity, and plenty of toasted oak on the finish. I was unable to track down the wine’s exact composition, but I think it’s safe to say it contains at least some combination of pinot noir, tempranillo and sangiovese.

Rachel Riggs, proprietor of Quel Fromage artisan cheese shop in Bellingham carries the wine for just $12 a bottle. Riggs recommends serving it with Grayson, a celebrated new American cheese, and has a few other suggestions you can try with a visit to her shop at 1200 Old Fairhaven Parkway at 12th Street.

Another great Oregon wine is the King Estate 2007 Domaine Pinot Gris (about $25), from the winery’s estate vineyards southwest of Eugene. This is a beautiful, well-made white wine that begins with aromas of citrus and tropical fruits. Brimming with flavors of fresh pear and apple, the finish is crisp, yet full, with great mouthfeel and a nice, viscous quality. Perfect with poultry or seafood, it’s also terrific for springtime sipping.

King Estate wines can be purchased or ordered through area Haggen stores or on the winery web site at www.kingestate.com.

Chef Keith Luce from the HerbFarm with join Nina and Caleb Buty-Foster from Buty Wines in Walla Walla for a wine dinner at the Willows Inn on Lummi Island. Go to www.willows-inn.com for more information.

Start with a goal to make great red wines, add grapes from some of the best vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley, and include one of Washington’s most talented winemakers and you’ve got the basis for Otis Kenyon Wine.

Last month I met with owner Steve Kenyon, whose grandfather’s name and derby-capped silhouette appear on each bottle (a fascinating story in itself, which you can read about on the winery web site). Kenyon started operations in 2004, employed the services of gifted winemaker Dave Stephenson, and opened up a tasting room in downtown Walla Walla last May.

Otis Kenyon wines are big, beautiful, and flavorful and are so well-crafted and balanced they have the luxury of being enjoyed either with food or simply on their own.

Hot off the press is the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (about $34), with enticing berry and vanilla aromas and huge blackberry flavors. It’s still drinking a bit tight right now, but two to three more years of aging promise to provide polish and depth to what is already an excellent wine.

The 2006 Syrah (about $30) is another gem, and finished second out of 42 wineries at a syrah tasting at Salty’s on Alki in Seattle in April. It displays a hint of mocha on the nose, with plump plum and blackberry flavors and soft tannins.

Stephenson has really hit the mark with the 2006 Merlot (about $30), a stunning, near-perfect wine made from Seven Hills Vineyard grapes. All the pieces come together on this wine; lovely floral fragrances, dark plum and red cherry fruit flavors, good acidity, and supple tannins on a lengthy finish. Outstanding!

Otis Kenyon wines can be purchased locally at Compass Wines in Anacortes or on the winery web site at otiskenyonwine.com. Two other new releases, the 2006 Malbec and 2006 Carmenere are available for purchase only by wine club members or at the tasting room in Walla Walla.

2:30 to 5:00 pm - Pairing Food With Wine. Explore the basic elements of taste for food and wine and take the guesswork out of your wine purchases when planning for meals, dinners out, or social occasions. Click on the Wine Classes Page for more information.