Wine Events

Local

The Loire tasting: 2 to 4 p.m. March 15, Olympic Wine Merchant, 101 Capitol Way N., Suite 106, Olympia. Wines will include Sancerre, Vouvray and Chinon. $7.50. Call 360-786-9463.

Power vs. Finesse wine tasting: 2 to 4 p.m. March 22, Olympic Wine Merchant, 101 Capitol Way N., Suite 106, Olympia. A great opportunity to check out different styles of wine-making, with side-by-side comparisons of favorite varietals. $9. Call 360-786-9463.

Fridays Uncorked: Prestigious Wineries from Puget Sound: Arrive between 5 and 7:30 p.m. March 27, Bayview School of Cooking, 516 Fourth Ave. W., Olympia. Local vintners from Walter Dacon Wines, McCrea Cellars and Hood River Vineyards & Winery share wine-making skills. Enjoy casual, informative wine tasting (four to five samples) and complementary cheeses for $12. Call 360-754-1448.

Everyday Italy wine tasting: 2 to 4 p.m. March 29, Olympic Wine Merchant, 101 Capitol Way N., Suite 106, Olympia. Sample nine delectable, regional reds and whites. $7.50. Call 360-786-9463.

Wine dinner with Washington vintners Kyra and Bruce Baerlocher of Kyra Wines in Moses Lake: 6 p.m. p.m. April 1, Cicada Restaurant & Lounge, 700 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia. Five courses will be paired with Kyra's estate-grown Chenin Blanc, Pinot Gris, Dolcetto, Sangiovese and cab/Merlot blend. $72.50 per person includes tax and gratuity. For reservations, call 360-753-5700.

The Art of Wine Tasting: 1 to 4 p.m. May 2, Olympic College Shelton, 937 Alpine Way W., Shelton. An introduction on how to taste and evaluate wines. $29. To register, call 360-432-5400.

Wine tastings at Madsen Family Cellars: From noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 2825 Marvin Road N.E., Olympia. Free. Call 360-438-1286.

Wine tastings at Medicine Creek Winery: From 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 947 Old Pacific Highway S.E., Olympia. $5 tasting fee (refundable with pur chase). Call 360-701-6284 or go to www.medicinecreekwines.com.

Out of town

Yakima Valley's Spring Barrel tasting: April 24-26, Wine Yakima Valey - 55 wineries from Yakima to the Tri Cities. $30 in advance or $35 at the door. For complete details, go to www.wineyakimavalley.org.

"Come Wine With Me" - Puyallup Spring 2009 Art & Wine Walk: 1 to 6 p.m. May 16 throughout downtown Puyallup. Featuring 40 biodynamic and organic wines, and art in various media with a nature/environment theme or made of found/reclaime d objects. $20. For information, go to www.puyallupmainstreet.com.