Tasting rooms roll out new wines

Spokane Winery Association members will show off new releases this weekend at the annual Mother’s Day Spring Release Weekend.

There are new hours for this year’s celebration – tastings will be at participating wineries from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Wine lovers can explore new vintages, taste barrel samples, talk to winemakers about what they’re tasting and sample foods to complement the wines.

Pace yourself if you want to hit all of the tasting rooms during the spring release weekend. There are now 20 locations – and another new Spokane winery VduV on the horizon.

The newcomers to this year’s event are four of the wineries at Nectar Tasting Room, 120 N. Stevens St. Terra Blanca Winery and Estate Vineyard, Hard Row to Hoe Vineyard, Northwest Cellars and Skylite Cellars are now associate members of the winery association. The Washington vineyards share the downtown tasting room.

Also this year, taste Mountain Dome Winery offerings at Caterina Winery, 905 N. Washington St. That location is also home to Lone Canary Winery.

Many of the wineries charge tasting fees, but that cost is sometimes discounted from any wine purchases. A map with each of the winery locations can be found online at spokanewineries.net or www.spokesman.com/ blogs/too-many-cooks/.

Mother’s Day brunch fundraiser

Immaculate Heart Retreat Center celebrates Mother’s Day with its ninth annual Champagne brunch.

The retreat center staff and volunteers will open the doors on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to serve a special brunch featuring a carving station, Champagne, omelets-to-order and dessert bar.

Students from the Spokane Community College Inland Northwest Culinary Academy will be helping with the brunch.

The center is at 6910 S. Ben Burr Road and guests are welcome to enjoy the scenic grounds before or after brunch. The brunch is $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 6 to 12. Reservations are requested by calling (509) 448-1224 or online at www.ihrc.net.

Money raised by the brunch will benefit the retreat center, which serves all Christian denominations and age groups with spiritual retreats, guest speakers, life celebrations and worship opportunities.