There are fewer and fewer activities in the Northwest that don't involve wine in some fashion.
Well, we don't play jai alai up here, but you can push a tee shot at Fairview Mountain Golf Course and into Bill Eggert's tasting room at Fairview Cellars in Oliver, B.C.
A guest at SageCliffe could enjoy a glass of Cave B's 2007 Barbera while dressed in black tie and - accompanied by swanky young women in cocktail dresses and an exotic man under a fez - walk down a moonlit path through the shrub-steppe to the Columbia River near the Gorge at George.
You could pilot a dinghy filled with beauty queens from Vancouver Island out to Salt Spring Vineyards, but Star Sail Cruises will take you on the Schooner Zodiac to San Juan Vineyards and Lopez Island Winery this August during its Northwest Wine Tour.
OK, I can't come up with any firm connection between Northwest wine and martial arts, however, I've read that Portland's Aaron Stark, a ranked light heavyweight in MMA, helps manage Colene Clemens Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains.
Surrounded by swanky young women at a table with drinks? Could happen at Coeur d'Alene Cellars' Barrel Room No. 6, but I'm happy with my Traci. Besides, I've rubbed up against the gals in body paint at Whistler's Cornucopia.
No, I'm not "The Most Interesting Man in the World." I'm not even the most interesting dude in my office. I can't cultivate a decent soul patch, much less a beard.
Yes, I'd be intoxicated by the sound of my own voice if I could speak English like Col Solare's Italian owner Piero Antinori. My blood? It doesn't smell like cologne, but it'd be pretty cool if it were akin to Woodward Canyon's Artist Series No. 5.
Now, I don't always drink wine, but when I do, I prefer Northwest wine. Stay thirsty this summer, my friends.
1. Spread your green close to home. Portland business owner Claudia Bowers saw herself and others getting hammered by this deep recession. Perhaps she was inspired by a verse from the R.E.M. song Stand - "Think about the place where you live. Wonder why you haven't before."
So on June 27, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland will play host to the Best of Oregon Food & Wine Festival. The mission is to support and promote the local economy, and the slogan is "Keep it local." More than 30 wineries will be represented, and a dozen culinary artists will demo food and wine pairing tips. It's $25 to get in. Go to bestoforegonfoodandwine.com.
2. Glamping is in your Destiny. As if Jarrod and Ali Boyle need anything else on their heaping plate, the husband/wife team of Alexandria Nicole Cellars in Prosser and Woodinville now are innkeepers/campground hosts.
They've created ANC Glamping at their estate Destiny Ridge Vineyard, a spectacular site in the Horse Heaven Hills that overlooks Washington's Crow Butte Park and the Columbia River.
Your glamorous camping includes a wall tent with a large bed, small fridge, roofless (but walled) showers and your own deck with a gas grill. My favorite touch is the half wine barrel Ali deploys as a nightstand. Lodging starts at $250. Better hope the barking coyotes don't keep you awake.
Go to ancglamping.com for more.
3. A little juice for your little ones. Several wineries around Kelowna, British Columbia, have developed a great concept - haul your children wine touring with you and teach them to swirl, sniff and sip.
Tourism British Columbia is promoting family-friendly efforts by Gray Monk, Mission Hill and Summerhill, which offer tutored juice tastings featuring sparkling Okanagan Applessence. These apple-based non-alcoholic fun drinks are found in many wine shops and are flavored with cranberry, peach, pear, raspberry and other fruits. St. Hubertus provides places for children to use coloring books, pairing the experience also with Applessence and crackers.
4. Summer school at Foster & Dobbs. Foster & Dobbs Authentic Foods in northeast Portland carries all sorts of artisan products from boutique producers local and international, focusing on meat, cheese, wine, beer and other groceries. They also offer seasonal classes and wine-tasting programs.
On July 9, Oregonian wine writer Katherine Cole will lead a 90-minute class on biodynamic wines. With her background, the $25 is a bargain. She might be the most highly educated wine judge in the Northwest, an Ivy Leaguer with degrees from Harvard and Columbia. She's also taught journalism at Portland State. Check out the curriculum at fosteranddobbs.com.
5. When in Rhône. When the Rhône Rangers began spreading the word about the 22 recognized grape varieties in the Rhône Valley of France, Syrah was pretty cutting-edge stuff. Viognier was just being touted as an alternative to Chardonnay, but folks needed to be coached on how to pronounce it.
Now, Northwest wineries are bottling Cinsault, Counoise, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Roussanne on their own. Nearly 30 Northwest wineries are members of the Rhône Rangers, including Idaho's Sawtooth Winery, whose president - Ken McCabe - serves on the group's board of directors.
On July 15, the Rhône Rangers return to Seattle for "Guest Chefs on the Waterfront." More than 50 chefs, wineries, breweries and food purveyors will gather at Pier 66. Besides the food and the wine, there will be live jazz. Proceeds benefit FareStart's job training and placement program. Cost is $70. Go to rhonerangers.org or call 800-467-0163.
6. Play a round at Wine Valley. Walla Walla welcomed its second public golf course this spring. The name - Wine Valley Golf Club - makes sense considering there are more than 120 wineries in the Walla Walla area. If you are traveling from the Tri-Cities, head east on Highway 12. Drive through Lowden (Woodward Canyon Winery and L'Ecole No. 41) then turn left at Cougar Crest Estate Winery's new home on Frenchtown Road - formerly Ireland Road - and head north about a mile, past Long Shadows Vintners.
Judging by the price of greens fees, it's narrowly less expensive to purchase a bottle of Long Shadows red than to play 18 holes at Wine Valley GC. Go to winevalleygolfclub.com for information.
7. Toast a Heavenly sunset with fab Cabs. Ask Washington winemakers and if they don't rank Champoux Vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills among the best sources for Cabernet Sauvignon, they must be jealous.
On Aug. 15, Chateau Champoux plays host to its sixth annual Sunset at the Chateau. If features Italian-themed dishes by Castle Catering, Port-style wines with chocolate, and Cabs made from Champoux fruit by the likes of Andrew Will, Boudreaux, Camas Prairie, Fidelitas, Januik, Powers, Sineann, Soos Creek, Three Rivers and Woodward Canyon. Cost is $165. Call 509-894-5005 or go chateauchampoux.com.
8. Your cellar is just an iTouch away. This spring, Chateau Ste. Michelle launched its "My Chateau," a mobile phone application that rolls out a digital sommelier and digital cellar tied to the Woodinville winery's Web site.
It's a quick download and brings up two categories "My Pairings" and "My Cellar."
The pairings piece offers food and wine recommendations from the culinary team of John Sarich and Janet Hedstrom. The cellar provides a searchable and sortable library of each user's wines. Get started at ste-michelle.com/mychateau.
9. Eagle has landed again. Idaho truly is wine country now. Sun Valley established a food and wine festival in 2007. The Idaho Grape Growers and Wine Producers Commission pops the top on its inaugural event, Savor Idaho, on Fathers Day in Boise.
And this year, the Eagle Chamber of Commerce stages its third annual Eagle Food and Wine Festival on Aug. 21-22. There were plenty of Idaho wines on display last year, and this year at Merrill Park is shaping up to be even better represented. Idaho chefs will pair food with Idaho wines. Call 208-939-4222 or go to eaglechamber.com.
10. Net a big one with Harry. Last year, Harry McWatters stepped down from his role as overlord of Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, but he's still got his fingers in lots of things. One of the latest is the British Columbia Hospitality Foundation's inaugural fishing tournament at the exclusive Langara Fishing Lodge among the Queen Charlotte Islands.
Funds assist those in the food service, beverage or hospitality industries who need help because of accident or illness. The four-day event starts Sept. 4. Cost is $5,000. It includes transportation, accommodations, guided fishing, tournament prizes, meals, winemaker's dinner and special wines with dinner.
Contact Harry at 250-490-7946, wine@harrymcwatters.com or go to bchospitalityfoundation.com.
What is your favorite thing to do in Northwest wine country? Send your ideas to edegerman@winepressnw.com. Have a Northwest wine item to post on our free online Wine Events calendar? Go to winepressnw.com/calendar and follow the directions.
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