Wineries Offer Barrel Tasting

What’s that fragrant bouquet?

No, it’s not just the gorgeous clusters of lavendar lilacs that give this weekend’s festival its name.

It’s the pungent aroma of wine on wood.

This weekend, the Spokane area wineries hold their annual spring barrel tasting. This event, billed as part educational, but mostly fun, gives the public the chance to sample wines straight out of the oak barrels in which the fermented grape juice is aged.

“Not many people get to try wines this young,” said Latah Creek owner-winemaker Mike Conway. “It gives them a chance to taste the wines before they mature.”

At Latah Creek, visitors will be able to fill and cork their own bottle of lemberger, a light, slightly spicy red wine. There will also be a wine and cheese pairing exercise.

Caterina Winery will serve its ‘95 cabernet from two types of barrel to demonstrate the different flavors added by American and French oak.

Arbor Crest will dip into its ‘95 chardonnay and ‘94 cabernet. Visitors can cleanse their palates by munching on food samples from local food purveyors.

Sparkling wine specialists, Mountain Dome, will sample still wines at its state-of-the-art facility in the foothills of Mount Spokane.

Worden’s will pour samples from the 1995 vintage - the winery’s first reserve chardonnay and two different merlots, one treated with Hungarian oak and the other which spent no time in oak. Fare from John’s Southern Barbecue will be on sale.

Wineries will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the event. Call individual wineries for directions and additional details. It’s all free.

, DataTimes