Fork Dork: 'Dinner and a Show' Gets Jazzed Up in Bellevue

Area restaurants are getting in on the Bellevue Jazz Festival, which kicks off at the end of the month.

Local restaurants and venues will be hosting concerts during the 5th Annual Bellevue Jazz Festival from May 30 through June 3. El Gaucho Bellevue, 520 Bar & Grill, Cypress Wine Bar, Z’Tejas, Rock Bottom Brewery and Restaurant, Black Bottle Postern, Grand Cru Mixologie Lounge and Lot No. 3 will be hosting free concerts throughout the festivities. Lincoln Square and Bellevue Square will host additional free concerts. The Clayton Brothers Quintet (May 31), Booker T. Jones (June 1) and the Hubert Laws Quintet (June 2) will be the featured artists during the festival. They will perform paid concerts at the Theatre at Meydenbauer Center. General admission tickets are $34, $17 for students. Passes to all three concerts are $78. Bake’s Place, …

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Cork Dork: Washington Wineries Compete with Best from Around the World

Washington wines are gaining more recognition at national and regional competitions such as the Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Competition.

Last week I embarked on a road trip to Oregon like I hadn’t done since my college days. Back then I would travel to Eugene to watch my Huskies destroy the University of Oregon Ducks in football. For the record, the University of Washington has won more college football national championships than Oregon, with one. Do the math and you can deduce, the number of Oregon championships. Last Saturday, I stayed in Seattle to watch the University of Washington spring football game at Century Link Field, the temporary home of the Huskies next season. The defense made me optimistic about the 2012 season. The offense was downright offensive and made me want to drink Oregon Pinot Noir. That would have to wait a day. On Sunday morning I flew to …

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Wine Pick of the Week: 09 Vine & Sun Red Wine, Columbia Valley

Cork Dork columnist Chris Nishiwaki recommends a fine second-label red wine from Woodinville's Barons V that punches above it's weight.

Vine & Sun is the second label for Woodinville producers Barons V. But make no mistake about it, this is no junior varsity wine. Consulting winemaker Matthew Loso crafts a muscular Cabernet Sauvignon blend with some Merlot that gives the wine a round and fleshy mid-palate. The structure, complexity and layers of black currants, black cherries and blackberries are suggestive of a wine more luxurious than its $18 price tag. Smoke, spicy oak, graphite and a touch of stony minerality complement the showy fruit qualities. Pair this wine with the wokked luc lac filet mignon with organic arugula and cherry tomatoes at Monsoon East. The wine is available for order online from the winery or through local Mercer Island wine merchants The Olde Wine …

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Cork Dork: 'Passport to Woodinville' Just Part of Spring Wine Events

Some Woodinville wineries are opting out of the annual event and hosting their own open houses and wine release parties.

More than 30 tasting rooms are participating in Passport to Woodinville this weekend, but others are opting out this year, either just opening their doors separately or hosting separate events. Those that are open but not part of the event will charge a separate wine tasting fee not covered by the Passport cost. So be sure to check your passport carefully to confirm the participating wineries, or check the complete list in this article. The Passport to Woodinville runs 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Below is a list of wine open houses or wine release parties through the end of May. Friday, April 27 •Woodhouse Wine Estates will be throwing a party for the release of the 2010 Kennedy Shah Reserve Riesling from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, …

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Wine Pick of the Week: 07 Kestrel Vintners Co-fermented Syrah, Yakima Valley

Mercer Island Patch "Cork Dork" Columnist Chris Nishiwaki says this floral, juicy Syrah is a true taste of springtime.

Kestrel Vintners winemaker Flint Nelson co-ferments Syrah and Viognier in the style of Cote Rotie in France’s Northern Rhone region to produce a floral, seductive and juicy Syrah. The blend is 93 percent Syrah and 7 percent Viognier, all from the proprietary Kestrel View Estate Vineyards. The Viognier gives the wine its distinctive aromatics of orange zest, Clementine, violets and lavender. Flavors of blueberries, plums, prunes and raspberries dominate the palate complemented by hints of espresso, vanilla and baking spices. The soft mid-palate and juicy finish complete this wine. With barbecuing season upon us, Syrah is the perfect match for smoked barbecue ribs. Alternately, attend one of the “Everyday Gourmet Cooking Classes” at the …

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Cork Dork: Redmond Family Goes for the Gold in Winery Ownership

The Otis family has gradually increased its stake in Woodinville's Matthews Estate and Tenor. Last week the family became sole owner of both wineries

Redmond's Cliff and Diane Otis’ progression in the wine industry has been gradual and deliberate. It has been of Olympic proportions, making a major move every four years. The Otises initially invested in Woodinville-based Matthews Estate in 2004. In 2008 they bought out founder Matthew Loso. Now, in 2012, they bought out business partners Jim and Dawn Rubstello, who initially invested in Matthews Estate in 2001, to become the sole owners of the winery. The deal was finalized March 30. The next stage of Matthews Estate and its ultra premium winery, Tenor, involves the entire Otis family, including Cliff's and Diane’s sons Bryan, Jeff and Scott, and Scott's wife, Katie. "We didn't envision ourselves owning the winery full time at first," …

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A Rosé is Not a Rosé

Don't confuse today's rosés with the sweet White Zinfandels of yesteryear. Many quality rosés are made now and released just in time for your Easter feast.

A rosé is not just a rosé anymore. Long maligned by its poor reputation based on the sweet version of White Zinfandel mass-produced by wineries such as Beringer Vineyards in Napa Valley, more rosés are now made in the food-friendly dry style. In wine regions across the world, including Washington, the Loire Valley, Provence, Tavel, Tuscany, Rioja and even California, quality rosés are produced. Rosé is often released young, sometimes months after it was harvested. That means right about now in time for the Easter feast. The soft tannins and berry fruit qualities common in rosé counter the saltiness of ham to make a seamless pairing. Preferably, a high acid dry rosé is recommended, which plays off the saltiness of a cured ham and brings out…

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Cork Dork: What's the Best Way to "Do" a Wine Event?

Local food and wine event organizers share their insider tips on how to get the most out of and enjoy such events, which are coming into season now.

Major wine consumer events have become a rite of spring. An embarrassment of food and wine event riches is upon us (see list below), and experienced event organizers have wise advice lest you be embarrassed at such events. Jamie Peha gave birth to TASTE Washington — considered the mother of all Washington wine events — when she worked for the Washington Wine Commission from 1994 to 2005. TASTE Washington was initially a wine-trade-only event. Peha, the marketing manager at the time, created the consumer event in 1998. It hosted about 50 wineries at The Paramount Theatre in downtown Seattle. Each winery poured a single wine and was paired with a restaurant, which prepared a dish. The event drew around 900 guests, according to Peha. This …

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