No matter how much you read about wine, there’s no substitute for personal experience. But there’s often a vast difference between the wine we can consume — or afford — by ourselves and the wine we’d like to try given unlimited funds (and a liver of steel). Thus, there exists the beast known as the wine tasting. Whether it’s a few bottles on a counter of a wine bar, or a thousand-wine formal event with etched glasses and hors d’oeuvres on silver platters, a tasting is an unparalleled learning opportunity.



Cork!, a wine bar in the space once occupied by Pairings wine bar next to the Rebecca V Art Gallery, opened Tuesday. It’s an intimate wine bar where you can sample wines by the glass, half-glass, bottle, and wine flights. They also will serve tapas.



Cork! will host a wine tasting every Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. Tacoma now has another spot to taste, and learn, about wine.



[Cork! 3012 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.212.1492]

Food Matters

• The Sea Grill hosts a kestrel Wine Dinner tonight at 6:30 p.m. The evening will feature a six-course menu created by Executive Chef Matt Brandsey and will be highlighted by six hand-selected wines from Kestrel. The cost is $125 per person. Reserve your spot at 253.272. 5656.


• Dockside Bistro offers a dollar cork fee every Tuesday. Bring a good one to 501 Columbia N.W. in Olympia and order the ravioli. Give them a buzz at 360.956.1928.


• The Emerald Queen Casino has temporarily moved its main floor restaurant, Pacific Rim, upstairs to make room for a new fine dining restaurant called Tatoosh in August.

Eat 101

• The Art of Wine Tasting discussion will be held June 28, 1-4 p.m. at the Olympic College in Shelton. The cost is $25. To register, call 360.432.5400.


• Noted cookbook author and Chef Cynthia Nims will demonstrate her brand of mushroom cuisine June 29 at 1 p.m. at the Pacific NW Mushroom Festival at the Nisqually Middle School in Lacey. For more details, go to www.mushroomfest.org.

The Mix

What we’ve been eating/drinking:

• The crab cakes with massive chunks of crab surrounded by moist cake, Sea Grill, Tacoma

Sippin’ Out

• Thursday, June 19: Tacoma Singles Wine Tasting, 6-8 p.m., Wildside Wine, 608 S. Oxford, Tacoma, 253.565.0811.


• Saturdays: Wine tastings, 1-4 p.m., $5-$7, Swing Wine Bar, 825 Columbia St. S.E., Olympia, 360.357.9464.


• Saturdays: Wine tasting, 2-5 p.m., Wine Bank, 7017 27th St. W., University Place, 253.564.1101.


• Saturdays: Wine tasting, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Corky Cellars, 22511 Marine View Dr., Des Moines, 206.622.2010.


• Saturdays: Wine tasting, 1-6 p.m., Wildside Wine, 608A S. Oxford St., Tacoma, 253.565. 0811.


• Sunday, June 22: California’s Central Coast Wine tasting, 2-4 p.m., $9, Olympic Wine Merchant, 101 Capitol Way N., Olympia, 360.786.9463.


• Mondays: $5 Wine Mondays, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., $5 glass of wines, Rosewood Café, 3323 N. 26th St., Tacoma, 253.752.7999.


• Tuesdays: Wine Tuesdays, 5 p.m., Toscano’s Café & Wine Bar, 437 29th St. N.E., Puyallup, 253.864.8600.


• Tuesday, June 24: Spanish Wine Tasting, 5:30-8:30 p.m., complimentary, Pour At Four, 3814 N. 26th St., Tacoma, 253.761.8015.


• Thursday, June 26: DiStefano Winery wine dinner, 7-9 p.m., $85, Dockside Bistro, 501 Columbia St. N.W., Olympia, 360.956.1928.