Wineries celebrating with special events

Not that you need one, but there are a handful of excuses to stop by a local winery in the next week or so.

Whitestone Winery in Wilbur, Wash., will host its annual harvest party Saturday. Winemaker Michael Haig promises Eggers Meats sausages from the grill, a taste of wines from the barrels and the latest release of the winery’s Pieces of Red.

Festivities will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the tasting room and winemaking facility in Wilbur, 115 N.E. Main St., about an hour west of Spokane on Highway 2. Admission is $5.

Reach the tasting room at (509) 647-5325 or online at www.whitestonewinery.com.

Grande Ronde Cellars is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its downtown tasting room today from 5 to 8 p.m.

They’ll be serving library wines and appetizers, and showcasing two new release white wines. Entertainment will be provided.

Grande Ronde’s Wine Cellar is at 906 W. Second Ave. The event is free, but owners Dave Westfall and John Mueller are asking people to bring a donation for the food bank.

Caterina Winery, 905 N. Washington St., will celebrate the release of the 2001 Willard Family Vineyard Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The release party is Nov. 5 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. There’s more information at www.caterina.com.

And the Spokane Winery Association’s annual Holiday Wine Fest is fast approaching.

The open house will be held at each of the area’s 14 wineries Nov. 20, 21 and 22. Doors are open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Find all of the Spokane wineries, along with a map to each tasting room, online at www.spokanewineries.net.