DESERT AIRE - Taste the Wahluke Slope, a winefest sponsored by the Mattawa Chamber of Commerce, will take place on Saturday, June 22, at the Desert Aire Golf Course clubhouse.

Taste the Wahluke Slope will go from 6-9 p.m. at in the public events area of the lower level of the clubhouse.

While 15 percent of Washington's wine grape acreage is within the Wahluke Slope AVA (American Viticultural Area), only one of the three wineries in the AVA has a local tasting room.

According to Chamber President Mike Thiede, Taste the Wahluke Slope will be an opportunity for the Chamber to show local residents and guests the importance of the Wahluke Slope to the local economy and the state's wine industry. It will be an opportunity for participants to sample more wines from locally grown grapes.

"We will have a display of information about the Wahluke Slope AVA," the Chamber's Lois Thiede said. "For anyone new to tasting wine, we will have a session on how to taste wine during the first hour. Our wine and cheese pairing will be featured a little later in the evening."

Ticket sales will be limited to 130. They are available at Columbia Bank, Mattawa Town Hall and Ginkgo Forest Winery and will be available at the door. Tickets will cost $25 per person ($45 per couple) for 10 wine tastings, finger foods, and a souvenir glass.

Jones of Washington, Milbrandt, Kyra Wines, Desert Wind Winery and Ginkgo Forest Winery will share some of their wines. Other wineries using grapes from this AVA are being asked to donate a few bottles of their wine for a silent auction.

Bill Kreiger of Cheese Louise in Richland will be at the event to share cheese and wine pairing suggestions.

Money raised at the event will help the Chamber with future programs. In the fall, the Chamber plans to host a business fair at which business owners and people wanting to start a business in the area can network and learn from each other.

Businesses or individuals who want to help with the tasting event or other activities of the Chamber are invited to attend the monthly Chamber meetings held at noon on the second Wednesday of each month. The June 12 meeting will be held at the WorkSource office.