Eat All About It: Tri-Cities Wine Festival planned Nov. 14 in Kennewick

Wine lovers, grab your corkscrews: the 37th annual Tri-Cities Wine Festival is Nov. 14.

More than 80 wineries have provided 428 wines for this year’s event at Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick. Judging has already been conducted, and this year’s medal winners, along with a singular Best of Show honor, will be announced during the evening’s festivities.

While this year’s event doesn’t break records for the number of wineries or wines, Mary Binder of Tri-Cities Wine Society, said it’s still a premium event for the area’s wine connoisseurs and novices alike.

“There’s really something for everybody,” she said. “This is a great opportunity for people who are just getting into wine.”

Comments from this year’s judges have praised the field of entries, which Binder says has become more diverse as the wine industry in the Northwest has grown, adding new varietals and blends.

There also will be a silent auction with items including art, gift certificates and wine. Proceeds will go toward scholarships for students studying enology and viticulture. About a dozen Tri-City restaurants and caterers will provide food, with some longtime participants joining newcomers.

And for those who want to tag along but aren’t that into wine? Two to three brewpubs also will be on hand.

The event runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., though wine society members can get in at 6 p.m. Tickets are $55 in advance, or $60 at the door. They can be purchased online via Ticketmaster or at the Toyota Center box office. The price is all inclusive, covering food and drink.

Binder advises those attending to make sure they have a photo I.D. and also have plans to get home safely after the festival.

The Rail for sale

The owners of The Rail Expresso & Deli in Kennewick are looking for buyers.

A recent post on the cafe’s Facebook page said the owners need to provide care for an elderly family member. They began scaling back hours in mid-October.

Christina and Rod Rader bought the shop at 2521 W. Kennewick Ave. in early 2012 from Brent and Deborah Debban who operated it as a Daily Grind, a coffee shop franchise based in Pullman and Colfax. They renamed it The Rail in honor of Rod’s continued work on the railroad.

The Raders continued to offer coffee and other drinks but added baked goods, paninis, ice cream and barbecue fare. They also were selling Thanksgiving turkeys and other specialty items, but are discontinuing that side of the business as they look to sell. They are offering to sell the business off in pieces, suggesting different prices for the coffee house and the barbecue business.

“This has not been an easy decision but one that we know we have to do most definitely,” they said in a recent post.

Ström Coffee closing in Richland

Ström Coffee, which has operated out of a repurposed Airstream trailer in the parking lot next to Richland’s John Dam Plaza for the past few years, is closing shop.

The owners announced the closing via their website and Facebook page, saying that because of certain circumstances they weren’t able to achieve their vision. They did not return a phone call seeking comment.

“To those who supported us, we thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you for giving our family this opportunity,” they said. “It was a pleasure revealing and ultimately trying to bring to the Tri-Cities, for good, what we consider delicious, carefully crafted and more importantly, healthy coffee.”

Those interested in the coffee beans Ström used can get them through Charis Coffee Roasters, which sells them at Barracuda Coffee Company at 2171 Van Giesen St. in Richland.

Tastes of the holidays coming to Columbia Center

Columbia Center mall in Kennewick has welcomed a number of seasonal retailers for the holiday shopping season, including See’s Candies and Hickory Farms.

Meats, wine, cheeses and some sweets make up Hickory Farms’ selection of products. See’s Candies is known for its quality candy and chocolate.

Other wine opportunities

Looking to benefit just a little from helping those in need fill their cupboards? Chandler Reach Vineyards has you covered this month.

The Benton City winery will offer free wine tastings throughout the month of November in exchange for three or more cans of nonperishable food to the Second Harvest food bank. Donations are also welcome.

And for those looking to satisfy their love of reading, Mid-Columbia Libraries will have Vita Cultura, a pairing of wines, minds and books, at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at the branch on Union Street in Kennewick. The event will feature Frichette Wines, also out of Benton City. Seating is limited and those planning to attend should send an email to programs@midcolumbialibraries.org to register.

This story was originally published November 10, 2015 at 6:26 PM with the headline "Eat All About It: Tri-Cities Wine Festival planned Nov. 14 in Kennewick."