Over a glass of wine late one afternoon at Purple Café and Wine Bar I had the pleasure of meeting Enzo Schiano, a former Microsoft marketing heavyweight turned olive-oil producer and winemaker in Tuscany. Schiano and wife Claire Beliard (a native of France) make Poggio la Noce extra virgin artisan olive oil at their hillside estate in Fiesole, Italy.

Schiano, a native of Naples, Italy, who studied in the United States before joining Microsoft, has been making olive oil in his groves (2,000 trees farmed organically!) situated above Florence since 2001. This year I tasted his “olio nuovo,” or “new” oil that had been pressed just a week or so before he returned stateside.

As you might expect of a just-pressed extra virgin oil, it was a vivid green color, redolent of aromas and flavors of new-mown grass, fresh herbs, and a bit of pepper, yet still smooth and satin-y. Yum!

The oil, which sells for $24.99 for a stylish 500-ml bottle, is sold at Whole Foods Market, some Metropolitan Market locations, DeLaurenti Specialty Food & Wine, QFC, and online at the Poggio Web site, so you should have no problem finding it.

Enzo is also a winemaker, and his delightful Gigiò wine, a Sangiovese blend, is available locally at McCarthy & Schiering Wine Merchants (which also carries the olive oil). I’d buy it for the whimsical label alone, not to mention the lovely wine inside.

This time of year, these Italian treats with a Northwest tie would make lovely holiday or hostess gifts.

On Sunday, June 14, wine lovers are invited inside the exclusive Rainier Club to experience the 2009 Seattle Wine Awards Grand Tasting. Taste this year’s award-winning wines from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at two levels: General admission for $85 or VIP Admission for $125. Admission includes a commemorative wine glass, wine tasting, and a dinner buffet in Seattle’s historic mansion, The Rainier Club. Tickets for the Seattle Wine Awards Grand Tasting are available online. 

On Sunday, April 5, 3,500 Washington wine lovers flocked to the Taste Washington! Grand Tasting at Qwest Field Event Center, according to a press release issued by the Washington Wine Commission. More Washington wineries–more than 225–poured than ever before, and a record number of restaurants–more than 60–served delicious bites.

Though ticket sales were down slightly from 2008, according to the Commission, many wineries and exhibitors noted the high degree of wine knowledge and enthusiasm of the attendees. Several expressed their satisfaction in interacting with wine consumers who seemed extremely dedicated to tasting and expanding their knowledge of Washington wine.

The educational seminars at this year’s Taste Washington proved very popular. These seminars included panel discussions on a variety of topics, including tastings of several different wines from a single vineyard or single grape variety. There were also seminars on new developments in winemaking in Washington state, whether by a second-generation family winemaker or in a converted old firehouse from WWII. We enjoyed learning more about the venerable Klipsun and Champoux Vineyards with Klipsun owner Patricia Gelles and Champoux owner and grower Paul Champoux. 

Wine experts from the Northwest and around the country were recruited to speak. The speakers included Ray Isle of Food & Wine magazine; Bruce Schoenfeld of Travel + Leisure magazine; John Bonné of the San Francisco Chronicle; Patrick Comiskey of Wine & Spirits magazine and the Los Angeles Times; noted Northwest wine expert Paul Gregutt; Alder Yarrow of Vinography.com, widely regarded as the world’s leading wine blog; and master sommelier Michael Jordan, global wine manager for Disney properties.

To top it all off, a game show-style seminar gave audience members a chance to win prizes through a blind taste-off of Washington wines and similar wines from around the globe. With six wines to decipher, it was quite challenging, even for the Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers. Here’s Washington Wine Commission director of education and Master Sommelier Shayn Bjornholm talking up the panelists while wearing his famous powder-blue tuxedo.

Our friends Hilda and Earl Jones at Abacela Vineyards & WInery in Roseburg, Oregon, started a seminar series in February that focuses on the hows, whys, whats, whens, and wheres of growing grapes, producing, and enjoying wine. The weekend-day seminars are structured in lecture and discussion format and are free of charge. Here are a couple of the upcoming topics:

February 28, 1 p.m.: Vineyard Threats

Learn about vineyard threats and diseases that can “kill” the fruit before it becomes wine. Hosted by vineyard manager Alex Cabrera.

March 28, 1 p.m.: Wine Containers

Learn the role of materials in winemaking–specifically the differences between oak-barrel and stainless-steel fermentation vessels, bottle shapes, closures, etc. Hosted by winemaker Andrew Wenzl.

I’m long overdue in recommending my friend Teri Citterman’s latest book, the Northwest Wine Journal, as the perfect gift for every Northwest wine lover on your list (don’t forget Valentine’s Day!).

With varietal info and plenty of room to write down your favorite wineries and wine finds along the trail, it was published late last year by local publisher, Sasquatch Books, who also published my very own Pike Place Market Cookbook, and retails for $13.95. 

Here’s the ever-glamorous Teri in early December, at her book-launch party at The Local Vine in Seattle’s Belltown section. 

On Saturday, October 25, and Sunday, October 26, enjoy great wine, costumes, pumpkins, wine discounts, and fun during a themed weekend in eastern Washington’s Rattlesnake Hills American Viticultural Area (AVA) appropriately called Hallowine. According to the group’s funky press release, “Chills and thrills await you on the haunted trail. Stop in at each of the wineries to discover what treats they have available, or what ‘costumed persona’ will serve you. There could be wine-bar witches, pirates talking funny, or vampires dribbling wine (not blood) down their chins as you approach the tasting bars. But don’t be afraid. ‘Ve only vant you to taste our vines!’ Best news is there is no charge—Hallowine is complimentary to the public.

Here are some of the supernatural occurrences at the Rattlesnake Hills wineries during this special weekend:

Bonair Winery’s staff will greet you in their scary best for some wonderful Hallowine specials.  Come in costume for a fiendishly good deal. During the month of October enjoy a sampling of our wine and table grapes, fresh from our estate vineyards. Our fall tapas menus will continue Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the month of October.

 Eaton Hill Winery will have “the HalloWine works” during this special fall weekend – costumes, pumpkins, soup and their award-winning wines. Stop in 10 AM – 5 PM.

 Masset Winery will host some of the best, big pumpkin carving you’ve ever seen for HalloWine. Internationally known artists will provide the carvings – you’ll have to see these up close to believe they weren’t carved from fire and brimstone! See them in action on October 17 & 18, and again on November 1 & 2. The carved creations will be on display from mid-October through Thanksgiving. For a preview, visit www.masterpumpkinscultor.com

A press release from our friends Heidi Noble and Michael Dinn, owners and winemakers at Joie Wines on the Naramata Bench of the Okanagan, British Columbia, brings the most welcome news that their “A Noble Blend” 2007 has been declared the Best Value Aromatic White Wine in Canada, import or domestic, at the 2008 International Value Wine Awards.   Special mention was also accorded the Joie Un-Oaked Chardonnay 2007 and the Joie Riesling 2007 with both being singled out as Judge’s Choices. 

This recognition comes on the heels of the Joie “A Noble Blend” 2006 finishing as a finalist for 2007 Canadian White Wine of the Year at the 2007 Canadian Wine Awards.

Heidi’s recipe for Claybank Farm Lavender Biscuits is featured on page 232 of Pacific Northwest Wining & Dining, paired with a dessert wine–Elephant Island’s Apricot Dessert Wine from the Naramata Bench. 

Since its inception in 2004, Joie Wines has won numerous awards and been recognized consistently as one of the top producers of aromatic white and Rosé wines in Canada. The winery focuses exclusively on the grape varieties of Alsace, Burgundy, and Champagne which excel in the cool-climate desert of the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys.

Joie to the world!

A press release from the venerable Washington winery boasted an “outstanding start to Washington’s 2008 wine-grape harvest and ‘stunning’ fruit at top vineyard sites including the inaugural vintage at Col Solare.” The release went on to describe a “perfect” ripening season, full crop yields, and restrained sugar levels.

“We are starting off with a bang, not a whimper, and everything looks great,” said Doug Gore, Senior Vice President of Winemaking and Vineyards at Ste. Michelle, which began harvesting Chardonnay from the Columbia Crest estate vineyard on September 10th. “Although we started picking about 10 days later than past vintages, we are quickly ramping up and the fruit is ripening with great flavors. If the weather holds, it’s a harbinger for a really great year, especially for red varietals.”

Red Mountain is home to Col Solare, Ste. Michelle’s joint venture winery with Marchesi Antinori of Italy. 2008 marks the first harvest at the 28-acre Col Solare estate vineyard, planted in 2007. An inaugural half ton of Merlot was picked on September 16th, to be followed by limited quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Syrah, and Petit Verdot.  The vineyard is scheduled to come into full production in 2010.