EDITOR’S NOTE: To promote your wine event on our Calendar of Events, simply e-mail the specifics about the event to: chuck@discoverwashingtonwine.com. It’s best to send the information about your event a minimum of 30 days in advance.
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars Announces
Schedule for Summer Concert Series
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars of Spokane has announced the schedule for its 2023 Summer Concert Series. The concerts, which spotlight well-known as well as up and coming entertainers, will be held on Thursday and Sunday evenings. It’s your chance to enjoy fresh air, amazing views, and the food and wine you’ve come to expect from Arbor Crest.
Following is a list of the concert dates during the months of June and July. To check out the schedule of concerts during the months of August and September, visit: www.arborcrest.com/summer-concert-series.
JUNE
Thursday Concerts – June 1 — The Rising (Rock); June 8 – Kaitlyn Wiens (Neo Soul); June 15 – Sean Kavanaugh (Multi-Genre Covers); June 22 – King Jazz Combo (Jazz); June 29 – John Hewitt (Easy Listening).
Sunday Concerts – June 4 – Superchrome (Rock); June 11 – Ron Green Band (Pop/Funk/Soul); June 18 – Tuxedo Junction (Big Band); June 25 – Nu Jack City (Motown Soul).
JULY
Thursday Concerts – July 6 – Ed Shaw (Country); July 13 – Swing Set (Swing/Pop); July 20 – Robert Vaughn (Jazz/R&B); July 27 – Christy Lee (Powerhouse Country).
Sunday Concerts – July 2 – Grand Avenue (70s – 90s Dance Music): July 9 – One Street Over (Multi-Genre Cover Band); July 16 – Atomic Jive (Rhythm & Blues); July 23 – Soul Proprietor (Urban Soul); July 30 – Baja Boogie Band (Rocking Blues).
All guests must be 21 or older and purchase a General Admission Ticket for admittance to the concert grounds. Tickets are $10 for Thursday concerts and $18 for Sunday concerts.
If you want to add a more upscale option to your concert experience, reserved VIP seating is available for each concert, offering you and your guests the comfort of table seating and staffed food and wine service. VIP seating at a table for four is $60 plus admission.
Arbor Crest is also welcoming back picnics at the Estate this year. This means you are welcome to bring in your own food during concerts and daytime visits.
Please note: Coolers and bags are subject to inspection. Outside alcohol, including previously purchased Arbor Crest Wine is not permitted. Non-alcoholic beverages must be in factory-sealed containers.
For more information about the reserved seating option, call the winery at (509) 927-9463, or visit: www.arborcrest.com/summer-concert-series.
Avennia Estate to Hold First Friday Concert
Series at Red Mountain Tasting Room June – Oct.
Avennia Estate has announced the line-up for its First Friday of the Month Concert Series at its tasting room on Red Mountain in Benton City, WA. The concerts will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. June through October.
Wine by the glass or bottle and food will be available for purchase as guests enjoy live music on the patio. The concert schedule is as follows: June 2 – Opera, musical theater, and more with Shelly and Eli Traverse accompanied by Beth Tankersley; July 7 — Accomplished violin and percussion duo Vanessa Moss and Josh Granola; Aug. 4 — Calico Bones playing folksy originals and interesting covers from across many eras; Sept. 1 — Evocative vocals and the simplicity of acoustic guitar from singer/songwriter Lauren Wanamaker; Oct 6 — To be announced.
On Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25, Avennia Estate will celebrate the one-year anniversary of opening its Red Mountain tasting room with live music, food trucks, library wines and more.
Avennia Estate’s Red Mountain tasting room is located at 20206 E. 583 PR N.E., Benton City, WA.,99320. For more information about the Estate’s First Friday Concerts or its One-Year Anniversary of the opening of its Red Mountain tasting room, call: (509) 588-6870.
Series of Events Will Celebrate Red Mountain
Wines on Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10
On June 9 and 10, winemakers and grape growers on Washington’s Red Mountain will host a series of events called Taste Red Mountain in the renowned winegrowing region. The weekend’s events will include dinners, outdoor activities, restaurant takeovers, and the annual Grand Tasting.
Saturday’s Grand Tasting on June 10 will feature 26 Red Mountain producers (the full list can be found below) pouring wines at Col Solare Winery from 3 p.m. to 5 pm. Winery-hosted dinners on Friday and Saturday nights will be held at Fidélitas Winery, Hedges Family Estate and Red Mountain Trails Winery. A winery yoga class and a guided vineyard hike will be offered on Saturday morning. Horse-drawn wagon rides through the vineyards will accompany Saturday’s dinner at Red Mountain Trails.
Taste Red Mountain Weekend Event Schedule:
Wine & Paella at Fidélitas — Friday, June 9 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The weekend starts with a catered dinner at Fidélitas. Seafood Paella by Chef Frank Magana of Culture Shock Bistro will be served alongside wines from Fidélitas, Obelisco Estate Winery, Palencia Wine Company and Upchurch Vineyard. Joining Fidélitas winemaker Charlie Hoppes and general manager Will Hoppes at this event will be Obelisco Estate’s Ken Abbott, Palencia Wine Company’s winemaker Victor Palencia, and Upchurch Vineyard’s winemaker, Chris Upchurch. Tickets: $65 per person.
Vino-Yasa Yoga at Kiona Vineyards & Winery —Saturday, June 10 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Taste Red Mountain guests can start the day with a guided yoga class at Kiona Vineyards & Winery with yoga instructor April James from Columbia Basin Racquet Club’s Health & Wellness Clinic. The one-hour Vinyasa flow is catered for every level, with savory pastries from Ethos Bakery to share afterward. Tickets: $30 per person.
Saturday Morning Guided Vineyard Hike starting at Domaine Magdalena — Saturday, June 10 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Guests will join a guided vineyard hike hosted by Maggie Hedges of Domaine Magdalena and Sarah Goedhart of Hedges Family Estate. The hike will move at a pace suitable for all, with a mid-hike break at a beautiful gazebo in Hedges Estate’s Biodynamic vineyards for savory pastries from Ethos. Tickets: $30 per person.
Grand Tasting at Col Solare Winery —
Saturday, June 10 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Representatives from 26 wineries will be on hand to pour samples of wine to enjoy alongside small bites, offering guests unparalleled access to winemakers and incredible Red Mountain views. Col Solare’s position at the base of Red Mountain offers a 180-degree view and a wonderful location for the indoor and outdoor Grand Tasting. Tickets: $100 per person.
Wineries pouring at the Grand Tasting Event include: Ambassador Wines of Washington, Anelare Winery, Barnard Griffin Winery, Canvasback Winery, Cascade Cellars, Col Solare Winery, DeLille Cellars, Domaine Magdalena, Elk Haven Winery, Fidélitas Wines, Frichette Winery, Guardian Cellars, Hamilton Cellars, Hedges Family Estate, Kiona Vineyards and Winery, Klipsun Winery, Liminal Wines, Market Vineyards, Muret-Gaston Winery, Obelisco Estate, Page Cellars, Palencia Wine Company, Red Mountain Trails Winery, Tinte Cellars and Upchurch Vineyard.
Horse-drawn Wagon Rides & BBQ Dinner at Red Mountain Trails Winery — Saturday, June 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Red Mountain Trails Winery will conduct horse-drawn wagon rides through the vineyards of Red Mountain. Wagon rides start every half hour, with a BBQ dinner provided by Tsunami catering afterward. Guests will enjoy wines and meet the winemakers from Red Mountain Trails, Ciel du Cheval, Page Cellars, and Tinte Cellars. Tickets: $50 per person.
Collaborative Winemaker Dinner at Hedges Family Estate — Saturday, June 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Hedges Family Estate will host a collaborative winemaker dinner featuring wines from Canvasback, Hedges Family Estate, Liminal Wines, and Muret-Gaston Winery. A seasonal coursed menu designed by Hedges’ chef Aislinn McManigal-Quintana will be paired with select Red Mountain wines to enjoy with the winemakers from all four wineries. Tickets $175 per person.
To purchase tickets for all of the weekend’s events, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/taste-red-mountain-grand-tasting-other-events-tickets-631633812737.
ABOUT THE RED MOUNTAIN AVA
Red Mountain is a premier winegrowing region in southeast Washington with a storied reputation for world class Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends. The region is named after a hill that turns scarlet red with cheatgrass in late spring, and which quietly looms behind the area’s most celebrated vineyards.
In addition to several award-winning wineries offering a host of hospitality experiences on Red Mountain itself, Red Mountain wines can be enjoyed across Washington, as the region cultivates the most sought-after fruit in the state for wineries in Walla Walla, Woodinville and beyond. For more information, please visit redmountainava.com.
Summer Concert Series at VanArnam Vineyards
Features Seven Bands Starting Saturday, June 10
Kent and Allison VanArnam, owners of VanArnam Vineyards in Zillah, WA., invite you to celebrate summer with delicious wine and gorgeous sunsets, and dance to the music of some of the Pacific Northwest’s top rock, blues, and pop bands during their Summer Concert Series, which begins on Saturday June 10 with the country rock sounds of the Harvey Creek Band.
The complete schedule of concerts is as follows: June 10 – Harvey Creek Band (Country Rock); June 24 – Krome (Classic Rock); July 8 – Laurel Canyon Legacy (California Rock/Pop); July 29 – West Coast Feed (New Seattle Sound); Aug. 12 – Eden (Rock/Blues/Pop); Aug. 26 – Englewood Heights (Electric Rock, Jazz, Blues, Pop & Country); Sept. 9 – Tom Petty Tribute).
The gates for all seven concerts open at 5 p.m. with music starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person per concert, but you can buy a season pass for $120, which includes entry to all seven concerts. Save $20 off the cost of a season pass by joining the winery’s wine club.
To purchase tickets, visit: www.vanarnamvineyards.com/concerts. Your emailed receipt will be placed on a will call list – no actual tickets will be mailed out.
VanArnam Vineyards is located at 1305 Gilbert Road, Zillah, WA. 98953. Phone: (509) 829-1540.
WIT Cellars Announces Lineup for Summer
Concert Series in Prosser’s Vintners Village
WIT Cellars has announced the lineup for its Second Annual Summer Concert Series, which will be held in the expansive grassy area next to the winery, located at 505 Cabernet Court in Prosser’s Vintners Village.
The concert schedule looks like this: June 24 — Heart By Heart with Diego Romero (featuring original Heart members Steve Fossen & Michael Derosier); July 28 — Drivin’ n’ Crying; Aug. 11 — Too Slim and the Taildraggers with Junk Belly; Aug. 24 — Dueling Pianos; Sept. 23 — Kim Archer, Naughty Pine and West Coast Feed.
Bring a chair and blanket for maximum comfort while enjoying the music. Food and drinks, including a great selection of wine from WIT Cellars and beer, provided by Perfect Circle Brewing, will be available for purchase. No outside alcohol will be allowed.
Tickets for all concerts, which start at 6 p.m., are $30 per person, plus taxes and fees. For more information, call WIT Cellars at (509) 786-1311.
Bottles, Brews and Barbecues Festival Set
for June 9 -10 in Prosser’s Vintners Village
The Bottles, Brews, and Barbecues Festival is returning to Vintners Village in Prosser, WA., on Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10. This fundraising event, benefiting the Prosser Memorial Health Foundation, gets bigger and better every year, bringing live music, great barbecue, lawn games, breweries, wineries, and prime bonding time with friends and family.
The event starts on Friday with a special Festival Dinner featuring a delicious barbecue feast with all the fixin’s catered by Swampy’s BBQ and live music by XYZ & The Boomers. Tickets for the dinner, which runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., are $125 per person and include entry to Saturday’s all-day Bottles, Brews & Barbecues festivities.
On Saturday, barbecue teams from across the Northwest will participate in a juried BBQ competition sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Barbecue Association. Attendees will be able to sample the barbeque entered in the competition after the judges have crowned the winners in the following categories: Pork, Brisket, Chicken and Ribs. The winners will qualify for entry into the National barbecue competition in Tennessee later this summer.
Saturday ticket holders will be able to enjoy local craft beers, wine, tasty food and live music featuring the Knutzen Brothers, XYZ & The Boomers and the Flat Possum Pickers.
Local wineries that will be pouring at the event include Alexandria Nicole Cellars, Arfield Estates, Coyote Canyon Winery, Daven Lore Winery, Martinez & Martinez Winery, Milbrandt Vineyards and WIT Cellars.
Tickets for Saturday’s festivities, which will be held in the vacant lot next to WIT Cellars on Cabernet Court, are $30 per person if purchased in advance or $40 the day of the event. The Festival will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Advance tickets can be purchased by logging onto: www.bottlesbrewsbarbecues.com/tickets or by calling Shannon Hitchcock at Prosser Memorial Health Foundation at: (509) 786-6601.
Celebrate Walla Walla Valley Wine – Merlot,
Region’s Largest Wine Event, Set for July 13-15
More than 60 Walla Walla Valley wineries, along with guest speakers and winemakers from leading wine regions outside of Walla Walla (including California and Chile) will headline this year’s Celebrate Walla Walla Valley Wine – Merlot event to be held at various locations throughout Walla Walla Valley from July 13-15.
Celebrate showcases a different wine varietal each year, comparing and sharing the similarities and differences of the Walla Walla Valley with other leading wine regions around the world.
“Celebrate Walla Walla Valley Wine – Merlot is the country’s only Merlot-focused wine event of this scale,” said Liz Knapke, Executive Director of Walla Walla Valley Wine. “We believe that the Walla Walla Valley produces some of the world’s finest Merlot and are happy to showcase it alongside other acclaimed growing regions that craft the varietal.”
The 2023 Celebrate event series will kick-off Thursday afternoon, July 13 with an educational discussion at the historic Gesa Power House Theatre in downtown Walla Walla. Tailored to oenophiles, topics will span terroir, growing conditions, and the cultural significance of Merlot.
Thursday evening will feature Vintage Pour, which will be held in the barrel rooms of L’Ecole N° 41 Winery, where guests can sample library wines ranging from 1998 to 2013 from more than 30 Walla Walla Valley wineries.
On Friday, visiting winemakers and wine experts will join Walla Walla Valley winemakers to delight guests with a panel discussion and tastes of Merlot from around the globe. Doug Frost, one of three individuals in the world to hold simultaneously the Master of Wine and Master Sommelier titles, will moderate the Wine Panel Presentation and Tasting, which demonstrates how wines can vary among the world’s leading regions resulting from different growing conditions and winemaking styles through the educational seminar and tasting.
Attendees will get to taste Merlot represented by the panelists, which will include: John Freeman, Winemaker, Browne Family Vineyards, Walla Walla Valley; Kelsey Albro Itämeri, Winemaker and Owner, itä wines, Walla Walla Valley; Marcus Rafanelli, Winemaker, L’Ecole N° 41, Walla Walla Valley; Kimberlee Nichols, Winemaker, Markham Vineyards, Napa Valley, CA.; Rick Bonitati, President & Chief Executive Officer, St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, Sonoma Valley, CA.; and Aurelio Montes Jr., Chief Winemaker, Montes Winery, Colchagua Valley, Chile.
The Wine Panel Presentation and Tasting takes place on Friday, July 14 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. at the historic Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center.
Friday’s events culminate with the Collaborative Winemaker Dinner Series. Ticket holders will experience an exclusive evening in the Walla Walla Valley as winemakers and chefs band together to create intimate food and wine experiences. A limited number of seats are offered at the dinner tables of 10 locations throughout the Walla Walla Valley.
The Celebrate series of events concludes with the Merlot Grand Tasting at The Motor Co. – a newly restored historic venue in downtown Walla Walla. This is the largest organized wine tasting event of the year in the Walla Walla Valley with nearly 50 wineries pouring their latest Merlot releases alongside white, sparkling and rosé wines.
Tickets are now on sale at: www.wallawallawine.com/celebrate.
About Celebrate Walla Walla Valley
Formed by Walla Walla Valley Wine in 2013, Celebrate Walla Walla Valley Wine is the region’s signature wine event held annually in July. The event series is structured to showcase a different wine varietal each year, focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot, the region’s most widely grown and produced varietals. Over the course of three days, the events demonstrate how wines can vary among the world’s leading regions resulting from different growing conditions, winemaking styles, and vineyards through special tastings of rare vintage wines, educational seminars, and one-of-a-kind winemaker dinners.
19th Annual Art Walk & Wine Gala Set for
Sat., July 15 in Historic Downtown Prosser, WA.
The 19th Annual Prosser Art Walk & Wine Gala will be held on Saturday, July 15 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the streets of Historic Downtown Prosser, WA.
Attendees will be able to sip award-winning wines from 30 Washington wineries and enjoy a stroll on Art Walk Promenade featuring the creative works of Pacific Northwest artisans exhibiting a variety of mediums from fine art, glass, pottery, jewelry, fiber, and wood to recycled whimsy.
The 30 wineries that will be participating in the event include 14 Hands Winery, Above the Curve Vineyard, Airfield Estates Winery, Alexandria Nicole Cellars, Barrel Springs Winery, Bills Tasting Room, Bunnell Family Cellar, Chandler Reach Winery, Chinook Winery, Columbia Crest Winery, Cork & Taps by Domanico Cellars, Coyote Canyon Winery, Daven Lore Winery, Desert Wind Winery, Hinzerling Winery, Kestrel Vintners, Martinez & Martinez Winery, Mercer Estates Winery, Milbrandt Vineyards and Ryan Patrick Wines, Narratif Northwest Wine Collaborative, Norsk Strykr Cidery & Meadery, Purple Star Winery, Sleeping Dog Wines, Smasne Cellars, Thurston Wolf Winery, Tirriddis Sparkling Wines, Wautoma Springs Winery, WIT Cellars and Yakima Valley Vintners.
Tickets for the event are $20 per person. This is an adult only event. For more information about the Prosser Art Walk & Wine Gala, call Tour Prosser at: (509) 786-3177.
Auction of Washington Wines Returns For Its
36th Year of Fundraising Events This Summer
The Auction of Washington Wines (AWW) returns for its 36th year of fundraising in 2023, announcing a full calendar of wine events and auctions. Wine industry leader Annette Alvarez-Peters is the AWW honorary chair for 2023.
AWW promotes awareness and growth of the Washington wine industry while benefiting the community with ongoing contributions to three beneficiaries: Seattle Children’s Hospital, Washington State University’s Enology and Viticulture Program, and the AWW Industry Grant Partner, Vital Wines.
The auction returned to a full slate of in-person events for the first time in three years in 2022, raising more than $4.2 million. Since its inception in 1988, the organization has raised more than $59 million.
This summer, AWW will hold its Gala Online Auction from August 9 to 12. The Washington wine community gives generously to ensure there is something for everyone included in this annual auction, with unique wine packages, wine-themed items, and incredible winery experiences up for bid.
On August 10, AWW recognizes emerging and diverse leaders at the TOAST! Industry Awards held at Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville. The awards honor individuals who have worked for the betterment and continued success of Washington wine.
Then comes the Winemaker Picnic & Barrel Auction, the largest celebration of Washington wine on the AWW calendar. It takes place on August 11 on the beautiful grounds of Chateau Ste. Michelle and provides an opportunity to meet Washington winemakers as they pour wines from across the state.
Tasting bars at the picnic feature more than 100 wines paired with gourmet food stations from top local restaurants. The Barrel Auction is the focal point of the picnic, featuring 30 wineries pouring samples of a yet-to-be-released wine up for bid.
AWW’s Gala on August 12 is the marquee fundraising event for the 2023 season. The Gala is held at Chateau Ste. Michelle and promises a spectacular evening celebrating Washington wine. A social hour with a luxury wine bottle auction opens the evening. Guests sit at winemaker-hosted tables for a four-course dinner created by local chefs. The Gala offers exclusive auction items in a live auction, and the party continues under the stars at the Gala After-Party.
For more information about this year’s AWW events, including how to purchase tickets for the various events, visit: www.auctionofwawine.
