Seattle Wine Awards

Congratulations Tsillan Cellars, Olsen Estates and Northwest Cellars for their multiple wins at the Seattle Wine Awards! The awards tasting event was at the Ranier Club this year and featured some of the state's top wineries pouring incredible wines. It was a beautiful sunny day and was a delicious way to spend a Sunday afternoon. For more information about the Seattle Wine Awards, visit www.seattlewineawards.com.

That's what I call educational.

With so many wines on the market, many young wine lovers can be easily confused. How is a newly enchanted oenophile to know if a wine has a subtle nose, or if it suffers from an awkward structure?

Substance is the result of a collaboration between hip, young wine entrepreneurs Jason Huntley, Jamie Brown and Greg Harrington, MS. They came together to create an educational label that would be distinctively Washington State and varietally correct.

The accompanying website is insanely addictive--mirroring the periodic table of elements (just as the wines' labels do). www.winesofsubstance.com

I recommend a highly disciplined approach to this particular field of study. If only college chem had been this much fun.