2008 Calendar of Events

 

January 20, Tri-City Country Club, Kennewick, Wash.

“Petite Sirah: Origins and Potential.”  Petite Sirah is a “variety with many fans among consumers.” Join us to see if you are one. The event will feature a wide-ranging array of Petite Sirahs from a number of different areas. Wade Wolfe of Thurston Wolfe Winery will lead a discussion on the grape’s origin and potential.

 

February 9, Richland Community Center, Richland, Wash.

“That’s Amore: Italian Wines”. Come take an Italian wine tour. You will sample a flight of Italian wines including Prosecco, Soave, Barbaresco, Chianti, an Italian red table wine and Moscato. Learn about these wines and the regions where they are grown.

 

March 9, Kestrel Winery, Prosser, Wash.

“Annual Meeting and Vineyard Series II - Boushey Vineyard”. Some vineyards stand out for the quality of grapes they produce. Dick Boushey has lovingly coaxed his vines to produce some of Washington’s best grapes. Listen to his story, which is closely tied to the history of Washington State wine, and sample wines from a variety of winemakers using Boushey Vineyard grapes.

 

April 19, Best Western Pasco Inn and Suites, Pasco, Wash.

“Around the World With Cabernet Sauvignon”. This event will feature Cabernet Sauvignon produced in various regions around the world. Sample wines from France, United States (California and Washington), Israel, Australia and Chile.

 

May 30, Terra Blanca Winery, Red Mountain, Benton City, Wash.

“Explore The Caves”. Here’s a new Society event – freshly made pizza baked in a wood-fired oven and accompanied by wine, of course!  This is an opportunity to visit the Northwest’s largest and most extensive cave system for wine. Terra Blanca’s caves have a capacity of more than 3,000 barrels.

 

June 29, Tri-City Country Club, Kennewick, Wash.

“A California “Semi-Sideways” Adventure”. Learn about wines from one of Southern California’s most popular wine regions, the Santa Ynez Valley.  Enjoy a variety of foods selected to pair with the wines, and maybe get some ideas for a future wine-tasting adventure!

 

July 19, Kiona Winery, Benton City, Wash.

“German Wine Tasting”. Yes, think Riesling! Germany is known for excellent white varietals, grown in what seems for many as impossible locations. Terroir, the magic word in how a wine is expressed, plays an important role. Event speaker, Ewald Moseler, is knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and will take guests on a superb tour of his homeland.

 

August 11 – Best Western Inn, Pasco, Wash.

“Wine Press Northwest- You Be The Judge”. Here’s your chance to make an impact – participate in judging wines for the NW Wine Press magazine. For those who attended the April 2007 seminar, this will be an opportunity to use the instructions/hints on how professional judges rate/evaluate wines. For those who did not attend that event, not to worry, you are still most welcome and can judge! A post-judging discussion will be a learning experience for participants. Results will be in the magazine!

 

September 5 – Holiday Inn Express, Richland, Wash.

“Meet Your Board of Directors”. An opportunity for members and the Board to meet, talk, get acquainted, reacquainted, share ideas, etc. This is a ‘drop-in-when-you-can” event with light appetizers and wine poured by Board members.

 

September 20 – Hedges Family Estate, Red Mountain AVA, Wash.

 “Annual Picnic”: A “4-H” Learning Opportunity. Enjoy a relaxing late-summer event with good food and wine at Hedges Family Estates Winery. Learn about sustainable biodynamic agricultural practices, and discover what is being planned to develop the Red Mountain AVA into a premier wine-touring area.

 

October – “Leonetti Vertical”. Leonetti … the wine many have to wait years to taste or purchase. Wait no more, at least for tasting! The Tri-Cities Wine Society will feature a vertical tasting of five Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignons – 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. Guests will learn how to do a vertical tasting and understand the technical differences between each vintage.

 

November – “30th Annual Tri-Cities Wine Festival”. This is sure to be a “Double-Gold Event” with new seminars, more wineries and more wines! Plans include expanding participation with regional collegiate enology and viticulture programs, and culinary institutes. Watch for dates and location announcements in early 2008. A must-attend event!

 

December – “Ice Wine and Holiday Pairings”. A holiday season tradition continues for the Tri-Cities Wine Society – a tasting of dessert-style wines from around the world. The educationally focused event will explore varietal and style differences, and guests will also learn how geography impacts production.

 

NOTE: New information about events will be added as it is available. Please revisit at a later date.

 

To add an event, or submit changes regarding an event, please send an e-mail to Chuck McCargar at  mccargars@charter.net