I’ve conjured up a few Halloween happenings and mark your calendar events
- Evergreen Wine Cellar is hosting a few special tastings for the month of November. TONIGHT from 4-7:30 pm will be a random tasting. Typically five wines for $5. Fri, Nov 7 tasting Jeff Runquist wines at the newly-opened We Plan It located near Beaches on the Columbia River. Wed, Nov 12 Port tastings at Cellar 55 Tasting Room. Fri, Nov 21 back at Evergreen Wine Cellar’s own location for a line up of wines specially-chosen for the Thanksgiving table.
- Village Vineyard – Hosting a Halloween open house this Sat, Nov 1 from noon-7 pm. Adults in costume receive a free tasting. Children welcome. There’ll be snacks and live music to compliment this gorgeous destination winery. Normal tasting room hours: Sat noon-6 pm, Sun 11 am-5 pm.
- Pomeroy Cellars – The much-anticipated costume party is quickly approaching. Come enjoy the adult fun this Fri, Oct 31 from 6-10 pm. Pomeroy will be giving out Trick or Treat coupons for discounts on wine and retail items. Costumes will be judged between 8-9 pm and you must be present to win. Come join in this 21 and over celebration. Worth it just to see what the always stylish, Destiny Fuller, will be sporting.
- Moulton Falls Winery – Just up the road from Pomeroy, Moulton will be hosting its own Halloween party – costumes optional, clothing mandatory – from 4-9 pm. Live music, hot spiced wine, cozy fire and fall nibbles to accompany it all. Pray for a rainy, blustery night because only then will Joe be offering his famous chili-mac with cheese and onion as a dinner option along with their ever-present wood fired pizzas.
Upcoming events:
- Bader Beer & Wine Supply on Grand Blvd is hosting three wine tasting evenings Sat, Nov 22, Nov 29 and Dec 6 beginning at 6 pm. Tickets are $20 each and include a tasting of all five 2014-15 limited edition wine kits paired with small bites. Aspiring wine makers should plan to attend one of these fun and educational events. Limited to 32 people each night so purchase your ticket soon.
- Stoller Family Estate in Dayton OR is opening up their Fermentation Room to volunteers and supporters of Meals on Wheels Sun, Nov 16 from 1-4 pm. Attendees will be treated to a special wine and food tasting wherein Stoller will donate 20% of the proceeds for sold holiday gift baskets to Meals on Wheels. Their sustainable tasting room alone is reason enough to make the drive. Experiencing their award-winning wines and supporting the mission of Meals on Wheels make it a win-win for everyone. Must RSVP by Nov 14 to Meagan at (503) 953-8130.
This weekend:
Downtown
Brewed – Carrying a selection of Columbia and Willamette Valley wines, the folks at Brewed are well-educated on the choices available. Current offerings include Charles Smith’s earthy Boom Boom Syrah, AniChe Cellars’ Barbariccia which is a sangiovese blend, Locati Cellars’ Barbera and the ever-sassy Naked Winery’s Penetration Cabernet Sauvignon and Foreplay Chardonnay.
Burnt Bridge Cellars – Tasting their award-winning wines Sat-Sun noon-5 pm. Burnt Bridge wines can also be found on wine lists around town including Willem’s on Main, Latte da Coffeehouse & Wine Bar and Roots Restaurant & Bar.
Charlie’s Bistro – Solo guitarist, Michael Baker, accompanies all that goes bump in the night this Friday from 7-10 pm. Charlie’s has a great deal for wine lovers every Monday-50% off all bottles of wine $50 and under. Plus Saturday is always Flight Night from 4-10 pm.
East Fork Cellars – The word is that East Fork will re-open in time for the First Friday Art Walk Nov 7, unveiling their new partnership with Gallery 360. Stay tuned for details.
Evergreen Wine Cellar typically hosts a Friday night tasting from 5-8 pm for $5 per person but has several special tasting scheduled for the month of November. See top of this post for details.
The Grant House has a wonderful happy hour and terrific dinner menu showcasing fresh, local ingredients. They recently added a new cider to their offerings. Excellent fall location to check that out. Future happenings include their Autumn wine dinner on Nov 7 which will feature Dobbes Family Estates wine paired with harvest favorites like butternut squash and short ribs as well as a Sharon’s Paint ‘n Pour event upstairs on Nov 11 at 5:30 pm.
La Bottega – Terrific casual Italian dining with a wine list to complement each flavor profile. Tuesday night wines under $50 are 50% off and wines over $50 are discounted $25. Excellent way to enjoy some premium wines with their locally-focused menu. Wine tasting every Wednesday night from 5-7 pm. $12 includes four tastings and antipasti. Mark your calendar for their Sun, Dec 7 Wine Dinner pairing foods with Small Vineyards wine-an importer specializing in small Mediterranean wines.
Latte da Coffeehouse & Wine Bar – Thurs, Oct 30 is their monthly wine tasting event beginning at 4 pm. Also hosting a children’s Halloween party this Saturday from 2-4 pm. Come see for yourself how much this place has to offer Clark County.
Niche Wine Bar – Keep some dates open. This cozy wine bar designed for wine enthusiasts is hosting their annual Beaujolais release party on Sat, Nov 29, bubble sampling on Mon, Dec 8 and their annual Port tasting on Christmas Eve from 4-8 pm. Features: 30+ pours available six days a week and a staff who knows their wine all in a relaxed atmosphere with walls decorated in local artists’ work. Live entertainment every Saturday night.
Willem’s on Main – Just celebrated their one year anniversary yesterday. Time flies! Excellent happy hour Tues-Sat from 4:30-6:30 pm to enjoy with their carefully-prepared wine list, 50% off bottles under $40 on Tuesdays.
North Vancouver
Farrar’s Bistro – Hosting a Bingo night this Sunday beginning at 5:30 pm. If that sounds interesting, stop into this Felida neighborhood restaurant and see how Farrar’s knocks the sox off its guests with unique appetizers like salmon won tons and gorgonzola cheesecake and soul food like today’s Ham & Cheddar Melt sandwich or Prime Rib dinner. Why not pair some comfort with a big fat Zinfandel or bold Sauvignon Blanc?
Hudson’s Bar and Grill – Inside the Heathman Lodge near Westfield Shopping Center. How could sipping a warming glass of wine at a cozy fireside table with soft piano music playing in the background not sound good this weekend? Come find your own spot under the massive Northwest logs and enjoy ‘Hudson’s Hour’ from 4-6 pm. You could do a lot worse than a place boasting Maryhill Winery as their house wine.
Village Vineyard hosting a Halloween open house this Sat, Nov 1
Village Vineyard – Hosting a Halloween open house this Sat, Nov 1 from noon-7 pm. Adults in costume receive a free tasting. Children welcome. There’ll be snacks and live music to compliment this gorgeous destination winery. Normal tasting room hours: Sat noon-6 pm, Sun 11 am-5 pm.
North County
Confluence Vineyards and Winery – Call now to purchase tickets for their Winemaker’s Dinner Sun, Nov 2 at 5 pm. Chef Peter Dougherty of La Bottega will be preparing a five-course menu complete with antipasto, braised beef shank and pumpkin crème brûlée to accompany Confluence’s French oak-aged wines. Save Nov 22 & 23 to help Confluence celebrate their 6th anniversary. Tasting room hours Sat-Sun noon-5 pm.
Koi Pond Cellars – Drawing the winner of an art and wine raffle this Fri, Oct 31. Each $5 ticket gets you closer to a bottle of Koi Pond’s Cabernet Sauvignon and a painting by resident artist, Micah Boylan. Happy hour Wed-Fri from 4-7 pm. Live music is typically scheduled on Saturday nights from 5-7 pm. Open Wed-Sun.
Gougér Cellars – Plenty of indoor seating to enjoy his award-winning wine line up with some non-alcoholic ice creams or food options that go beyond small bites. Live music some weekends. Open Wed-Sun.
Bethany Vineyards – Tasting their consistently elegant wines Fri and Sat noon-6 pm, Sun noon-5 pm. Walt’s first vintage was 2002 and recent tastes have proven that his wines are aging beautifully. Currently experimenting successfully with a Russian grape that’s growing well in our area.
Three Brothers Vineyard – Released two new wines last weekend. Their 2011 Sangiovese Reserve would be an excellent choice to warm up with this rainy fall weekend. Tasting hours Fri 1-6 pm, Sat noon-6 pm, Sun noon-5 pm.
Pomeroy Cellars – The much-anticipated costume party is quickly approaching. Come enjoy the adult fun this Fri, Oct 31 from 6-10 pm. Pomeroy will be giving out Trick or Treat coupons for discounts on wine and retail items. Costumes will be judged between 8-9 pm and you must be present to win. Come join in this 21 and over celebration. Worth it just to see what the always stylish, Destiny Fuller, will be sporting. Save the date: Saturday evening, Dec 6, do-it-yourself holiday gift and decoration party, fee will include all supplies and wine. More info TBA.
Moulton Falls Winery – Just up the road from Pomeroy, Moulton will be hosting its own Halloween party – costumes optional, clothing mandatory – from 4-9 pm. Live music, hot spiced wine, cozy fire and fall nibbles to accompany it all. Pray for a rainy, blustery night because only then will Joe be offering his famous chili-mac with cheese and onion as a dinner option along with their ever-present wood fired pizzas. Fall pasta dinner accompanies lives Celtic music this Sat, Nov 1. Novemberfest coming Sat, Nov 8 beginning at 11 am in conjunction with the last Wine Train of the year. All aboard the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad at noon and back to the winery in time to enjoy music by Five Drunk Cowboys, blues guitarist, Terry Robb, and a lasagna dinner. Veterans receive 20% off train tickets.
Heisen House Vineyards introduced two new wines at their Oct 4 Crush Festival. If you weren’t there, check out 2012 Sangiovese and 2012 Syrah this weekend. Open Sat noon-6 pm, Sun noon-5 pm.
Olequa Cellars – Tastes every other Saturday. Next wine tasting day should be Saturday, Nov 8 from noon to 5 pm. Brian’s receptive to accommodating interested wine lovers with some advanced notice so give him a call at (360) 666-8012. Wines by the bottle or by the glass.
Rusty Grape Vineyards – Look for their new release of Chocolate Syrah Port, sipping chocolate and vin chaud to be making an appearance in time for the wet-to-the-bones weather. Literally ‘hot wine’ in French, vin chaud is made with red wine, a selection of fall spices and sometimes a shot of liquor. Interesting to see Rusty’s version. Check out their recent renovation project, complete with a full-on move of their wood-fired pizza oven. Wednesday is 2 wood-fired pizzas for $15 ,Thursday brings Thirsty Thursday from 4:3-6:30 pm with special prices on wines, beer and food and Sunday they do it again from noon-3 pm. Something’s always going on at the Grape. Open Wed-Sun.
Emanar Cellars – Their one year anniver-sherry was a success but they’re not tired yet. Ramping up for a laid back Halloween celebrating this Fri with their Spanish wines and tapas featuring Koi Pond Cellars’ Geisha red as their local wine of the week. This Saturday come by from 3-6 pm for a Noonday Collection trunk show showcasing the wares of female artisans in developing countries.
Pasta GiGi’s – Kathy is always cooking up a weekend special to go with her ever-expanding wine list. Amazing, fresh Italian food with a passionate wine staff like Lindsey and Kathryn– a pairing made in Heaven.
C’est La Vie Crêperie – Wine-O Wednesday is marked by $1 off mimosas, spritzers and wines by the glass. Keri gives people an excuse to drink wine with the most important meal of the day – breakfast. Perfectly-flavored mimosas with such inspirations as French toast with mixed berry compote and chantilly creme. Très bon. Open Tue-Sat 8 am-3 pm.
East County
Vinotopia – Located inside Cascade Park’s Cinetopia, Vinotopia has received Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence for the last five years. Aside from the dizzying array of wines by the bottle, guests can enjoy ½ off bottles of wines on Wednesdays and tastes or glasses of wine from a selection of over 100 daily. Pair that with their Tightwad Tuesday pasta buffet or live music from 6-10 pm every Sat in their dining room and you have a no-fail date night.
Roots Restaurant & Bar-An extensive list of quality wines by the glass or bottle. From Cakebread to Domaine Drouhin to L’Ecole, you’d be hard-pressed to choose wrong and from 3-6 pm Mon-Fri and 9-11 pm Fri-Sat, pair your selection with locally-inspired happy hour bites.
English Estate Winery – ‘Ghoulish Times & Blood Red Wine’ is the theme this Friday night. Dinner is chicken pumpkin curry and there will be a costume contest and live music to lift the spirits (pardon the pun). Music and food begin at 6 p.m. The only winery open Monday from 4:30-7 pm with $5 glasses of wine to start your week off right. Consider joining the Nov 19 Wine About Painting event at 6:30 pm.
Birch Street Uptown Lounge – Getting ready for a Halloween-themed Friday night. Live music beginning at 8 pm this Fri and Sat. Sunday wine flight pouring begins at 4 pm. Last Sunday was a Tuscan flight. Stop in this Sunday to see what Dennis scares up at this classic cocktail lounge.
Krystal’s Champagne Lounge serves up more than bubbly in historic Camas with a few specials featured every Friday night. Sparkling, wines and beers also available. Will be participating in Camas First Friday on Nov 7, as always.
The Puffin Café floats along the port in Washougal. They have a limited and, quite frankly, not great wine selection but, if you’re in the mood to feel the island vibe without leaving town – and who couldn’t use a dose of the islands in the fall – this is the place to be (they have indoor seating). Their food menu is tantalizing and their wait staff is genuine.
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Viki
I am a Clark County native. I am Level 2 WSET (wine and spirit education trust)-certified and enjoy pairing wine with my passion for travel and fondness of food. My most prized possessions are the memories of places I've been with my husband, the chance encounters we've been blessed to have along the way and my carry-on bag. I can often be seen around town and in tasting rooms with our two beautiful, double-Merle Australian shepherds, Challenge and Baby Girl.