ROYAL CITY - Gard Vintners, a Royal City-based winery and estate vineyard, will focus on Scandinavian heritage when it celebrates its third annual Norse Night at its tasting room on Nov. 12.

The Norse Night fall release party will be held at Gard's tasting rooms in Woodinville and Ellensburg. It will go from 7-9 p.m. The Ellensburg location is downtown at 311 N. Pearl Street. The fall release party will include wine, Scandinavian food and live music at $20 per guest ($10 for wine members).

According to co-owner Lisa Lawrence, the name Gard, which means farm, was chosen to honor the family's Scandinavian background when the business was formed. The vineyard is located in Royal City.

The first Gard wine was uncorked in 2006. Gard now produces 3,000 cases annually. Its wines have won several awards, including double gold in 2007 for its "Twenty Six" Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.