Thursday, Sep. 24, 2009

Wineries offer new releases, tasty treats for Catch the Crush

By Herald staff

Many wineries in the Columbia and Yakima valleys are offering special events during Catch the Crush weekend, Sept. 26-27.

Many wineries will be introducing new releases and in the case of Badger Mountain Vineyard & Powers Winery in Kennewick, a new wine club. At Terra Blanca Vintners in Benton City, lunch will be available for purchase from the award-winning kitchen of Chef Frank Mangana, owner of Picazo 7seventeen in Prosser.

Eppie Skelton, owner of Oakwood Cellars in Benton City, has really caught the Catch the Crush spirit. She's invited several vendors to set up booths, including The Educated Cigar and Sagegold Soaps. The Rachel Bade-McMurphy jazz band will play in the afternoon both days. Caterers will be on site cooking up some delicious fare. But best of all, at 4 p.m. Saturday, there will be an old-fashioned grape stomp. Want to squash 'em? Sign up at the winery by 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

At Barnard Griffin in Richland, both days you can sample salsas -- take some home too -- and watch a stone artisan take a raw rock and turn it into a beautiful paperweight. His work will be for sale.

According to the Columbia Valley Winery Association's website, participating wineries include: 360 Cellars and Anelare, both in Kennewick; Barnard Griffin Winery, Bookwalter Winery, Goose Ridge Estate Winery and Tagaris Winery, all in Richland; Buckmaster Cellars, Canon De Sol, Hightower Cellars, Kiona Winery, Oakwood Cellars, Sandhill Winery, Seth Ryan Winery, Tapteil Vineyard Winery and Terra Blanca Vintners, all in Benton City; and Columbia Crest in Paterson.

Hours for Catch the Crush are generally 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a few opening earlier or staying open later. There will be no VIP tickets for the event.

Other wineries celebrating the harvest and crushing of the grapes include:

◗ Gordon Brothers outside Pasco off the Pasco-Kahlotus Highway will be open special hours: 2-6 p.m. Sept. 25, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 26 and noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 27.

◗ Milbrandt Vineyards in Prosser will have live music on the patio from 5-8 p.m. Sept. 25.

On these busy weekends be sure to take your own glass, or plan on purchasing one at your first winery. Wineries don't charge for admittance but may choose to charge a tasting fee.

For more information on the wineries and harvest events, go to: http://columbiavalleywine.com/catchthecrush.htm; http://wineyakimavalley.org; www.rattlesnakehills.com; www.horseheavenhillswinegrowers.org; www.winepressnw.com.; www.localwineevents.com