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Fresh Sheet

By Lorie Hutson lorieh@spokesman.com(509) 459-5446

Patit Creek Cellars opens tasting room

Patit Creek Cellars celebrates the opening of its new Spokane tasting room Saturday.

Meet the winemaker, taste wines and sample hors d’oeuvres paired with the wines while the food lasts. The Spokane grand opening will be noon-6 p.m. and is free to the public.

Patit Creek Cellars was originally based in Dayton, Wash., and now operates from Walla Walla, where the winery has a 6,000-square-foot winemaking facility and tasting room. It also opened a tasting room in Woodinville, Wash., in 2011. The Spokane tasting room, 822 W. Sprague Ave., opened this month.

The tasting room features 10 wines and simple food pairings. It is open Thursday through Monday, noon-6 p.m., except on Fridays and Saturdays, when the tasting room stays open until 8 p.m. There is more information about Patit Creek Cellars online at patitcreek cellars.com or call tasting room manager Sonya Morrison at (509) 868-4045.

Shortbread contest open

Submit your best shortbread recipes to the annual Ruth Schudel Memorial Shortbread contest at the Spokane Highland Games on Aug. 3.

The festival celebrates the culture and cuisine of Scotland with the shortbread contest, traditional bagpipe bands, Highland dance and “heavy athletic” competitions. Entries into the shortbread contest can be in one of two categories: traditional or flavored. Entries should be submitted before 1 p.m. Judging begins at 2 p.m.

There is more information about the games and the recipe contest online at spokanehighlandgames.org. Click on the activities tab or call (509) 922-3661.

Latah Creek turns 31

Latah Creek Wine Cellars is celebrating 31 years of winemaking with a new wine and discounted prices through the end of the month.

Owners Mike and Ellena Conway established the winery in 1982, and they produce a dozen different wines, including the popular Huckleberry d’Latah. They were recently recognized by Wine Spectator magazine as one of Washington’s top merlot producers. The winery is introducing a sweet riesling and increasing moscato production. A new malbec and a third cookbook by Ellena Conway are slated for a fall release.

The winery is open every day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 13030 E. Indiana Ave., Spokane Valley. For more information: latahcreek.com.