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Arts & Entertainment

Uncorked Wine Fest Headlines July Beverage Events in Kirkland

The annual tasting festival at Marina Park is July 15-17; "Rum and Sun" is Sunday at Milagro

IF JUNE was heavy on hops, July is balancing the fermented beverage scales with wine and rum. The Eastside Bartenders Association presents "Rum and Sun" on Sunday, June 10 featuring St. Lucia's Chairman's Reserve rums.

But it is Kirkland Uncorked on the downtown waterfront at that is headlining the month, with the annual regional festival July 15-17 showcasing 18 wineries, more than a dozen local restaurants, artist booths and several local bands.

Now in its fifth year, the festival, which was founded in 2007 by the City of Kirkland as a tourism-boosting event, is hoping to draw large crowds that have topped 5,600 in years past.

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A longtime participant in the Kirkland Summer Concert Series, Kirkland’s own Beatle’s cover band Creme Tangerine takes center stage at Uncorked, playing the event for the first time.

Creme Tangerine drummer Jeff Lockhart, who you might remember from his About Town profile on Kirkland Patch, is excited, saying, "Uncorked seems like it will have a broader appeal...We look forward every year to playing for the best city in Washington State -- great people, beautiful scenery and people who love great music of all genres."

Kirkland’s only producing winery, Northwest Cellars, will be pouring tastes of its 2009 Adagio, 2009 Viognier, 2007 Cabernet and 2008 Sangiovese. Owner Bob Delf says that participating in the 2010 event helped fill mailing lists, bringing in many new regular clients. The Northwest Cellars tasting room is tucked back in a business park in Totem Lake and has been open since June 2009.

“We’re trying to attract three or four more wineries to open in the business park,” says Delf, hoping to increase traffic as a tasting destination with images of limo-bearing tasting parties driving through his head. “We view events like Kirkland Uncorked as a marketing opportunity. You can’t really expect much profit from the event itself.”

IN ADDITION to having the best view of any other regional wine event, Kirkland Uncorked is also a great value at only $25 ($30 at the door). Admission price includes a commemorative glass and 10 tasting tokens. Pours vary from one to two tokens each.

Presented by Bruce Titus Eastside Subaru, a portion of the tasting garden proceeds will go to the Hope Heart Institute, a partner with . Advance tickets can be purchased online.

Not-to-miss entertainment includes grilling demos and the popular “Grill-Off,” pitting against each other Coho Cafe’s executive chef Jacob Nyman, Anthony’s Homeport executive chef Pat Donahue and Lark’s sous chef Wiley Frank.

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The Seattle Times’ food writer Nancy Leson will no doubt have a thing or two to say as the emcee of this competition and a first-timer to the festival. Leson has never been to a Coho Cafe but claims to have eaten at many different restaurants (her favorite being Chinook's at Salmon Bay) and is therefore familiar with Chef Donahue's menus.

"As for Wiley Frank, sous chef at Lark, I've eaten -- and been impressed by -- his food," says Leson. 

BUT IF you just can’t wait until July 15 to tip back a glass, RSVP for the EBA's free event on Milagro Cantina's patio on on Sunday, 2-4 p.m. The tasting lineup includes daiquiris made with silver rum, punch made with aged rum, and purportedly delicious spiced rum.

Rocky Yeh, brand ambassador from Cooper and Sons, will be available to answer any questions from his deep well of rum knowledge and cocktail history. Send an email to eastsideba@gmail.com to reserve a spot.

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