Peanuts And Merlot, Anyone?

hile screaming and yelling, cheering and jeering during a recent Seattle Mariners game at the I-hate-to-admit-it-but-it-is-pretty-cool Safeco Field, I wasted no time in checking out the park’s eats.

On that warm summer evening, nothing sounded better than a Northwest combo: a grilled salmon sandwich from Ivar’s washed down with a bracing Washington chardonnay. I bought my sandwich, but couldn’t track down that wine.

I had seen a fellow fan with a glass, so I knew they served it somewhere. But they didn’t make it easy to find. Of course, there was no shortage of spots selling every conceivable flavor of microbrew, and if I had wanted a Bud, someone would have brought that right to my seat.

The whole experience got me pondering how wine producers have had little success in shedding their elitist image.

Take me out to the ballgame is definitely still about beer - even in a state that makes great wine.

So, I started dreaming of ways to make wine more like beer, a drink for every man and every woman. Here’s what I came up with: The 19th hole is a fine spot for a glass of chilled white wine, especially on a summer day. Only trouble is the traditional golf course fare doesn’t quite fit.

Or does it? Sauvignon blanc and nachos, anyone?

Same goes for bowling, which is teetering on being trendy right now. Beer and bowling is such a tradition, but imagine discussing the merits of oak aging versus stainless steel between throwing strikes.

OK, OK. Remember, this is only a fantasy.

There are some real attempts to introduce wine into more casual settings. At a downtown movie theater in Seattle, you can order a glass of Columbia Crest merlot or spend a little more and get a Rex Hill pinot noir.

I couldn’t take my pinot into “The Perfect Storm,” though. There’s a little lounge area where you have to sip your beverages.

Still, it was nice to have the option of washing down your popcorn with a glass of wine. Seems like a natural move for those spiffy new megaplexes at RiverPark Square and NorthTown.

I would also love to see Spokane’s boutique hotels do evening wine tastings in their lobbies, showcasing our local vintners. That kind of program has been a big hit at The Hotel Vintage Park in Seattle, a terrific place to stay, especially if you’re a wine lover. All the rooms are named for Northwest producers. (You could slumber in the Mountain Dome suite!)

Of course, the best place to get comfortable sampling wine is at home. Have some friends over, do an informal tasting and then ask everyone to vote for their favorites. You might be surprised at how different everyone’s tastes are.

Wine will certainly never replace beer at the ball park, but it sure would be nice if vintners made greater effort toward making that (often) wonderful fermented grape juice less intimidating.

Happy anniversary

When Latah Creek uncorked its first wine in 1983, there were only 34 wineries in Washington. Now, there are more than 140, and Latah Creek looks like an old-timer at 17.

Latah’s Mike Conway has earned a reputation for consistency through the years with his lineup of wines that range from the serious cabernets and merlots to the populist favorite, huckleberry riesling.

After someone raved to me about the latest release of chardonnay, I picked up a bottle of the ‘98 and was impressed. It’s rich but not too buttery. It’s got great fruit and a nice crisp quality. And, here’s the kicker: It’s a steal at $11. Keep up the good work, Mike.

Some summer fun

The Wine Sellers in Sandpoint has organized the second “Taste of the Stars,” a pre-concert tasting that will feature 24 Northwest wineries, pouring more than 70 different wines.

The event will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 4 at Memorial Park. That’s a warm-up to the Spokane Symphony’s Mostly Mozart concert during the Festival at Sandpoint.

Tickets for the tasting are $12 (concert tickets must be purchased separately). Tasting tickets can be ordered by calling the Festival office at (888) 265-4554 or the Wine Sellers in Sandpoint at (208) 265-8116.

Seattle blues and jazz guitarist Michael Powers will perform at a dinner concert starting at 5 p.m. on Aug. 5 at Terra Blanca winery in Benton City, Wash.

The $35 ticket includes a gourmet barbecue with Northwest salmon and steak skewers, two glasses of wine and a souvenir glass. To check out the music before you buy your tickets, log on to www.michaelpowersmusic.com.

In Spokane, tickets are available at The Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd.