Three events for wine lovers

1

Harvest at Grace Hill Winery: The Whitewater winery is about to begin its harvest and is soliciting volunteer harvesters to help. The first harvest is scheduled for Saturday, and they will continue every Saturday through Sept. 27. Those wishing to volunteer are asked to send an e-mail to harvest@gracehillwinery.com and specify their top two choices for dates. Harvest crews work for two to three hours then are treated to a free lunch and wine in the winery’s event center. The winery is at 6310 S. Grace Hill Road in Whitewater. For more information, call 316-799-2511 or visit www.gracehillwinery.com/.

2

Fun With Fizz at Wichita Center for the Arts: Local wine expert Whitney Post is teaching this class, which happens from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the center, 9112 E. Central, and will explore the difference between sparkling wine and champagne. The course includes several wine samples but not food. It costs $55 for nonmembers, $45 for members. The class is for ages 21 and over only. To enroll, visit http://www.wcfta.com/. For information, call 316-634-2787.

3

Fine Art for the Wine Heart at Wichita Center for the Arts: The center at 9112 E. Central is offering another session of its painting class, which offers live painting instruction and encourages attendees to bring bottles of wine. This class is from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, and class members will be tackling Georges Seurat’s “The Eiffel Tower.” The class is $45 for nonmembers and $35 for members and is open to ages 21 and over. For reservations, visit http://www.wcfta.com/. For information, call 316-634-2787.

Wichita’s west-side Twin Peaks restaurant is going up at 7325 W. Taft, and it should be open by Oct. 6, said Rusty Rathbun, the local Twin Peaks franchisee. The new restaurant will have some perks that the original, which opened in 2011 at 8310 E. 21st St., doesn’t, including an outdoor fire pit and a 110-inch video wall inside. It’ll also have more seating than the east side. The new Twin Peaks will start hiring staff members on Monday. For construction updates and information about how to apply, visit the Twin Peaks West Wichita Facebook page.

The Wichita Eagle recently launched a new wine and beer feature on Wednesday’s food page that you’ll want to follow if you’re a connoisseur of adult beverages. In the feature, we ask someone in the know – a restaurant owner, wine club member, distributor, liquor store owner – to nominate one wine or beer that they like and that is available in Wichita. They describe the flavor and provide pairing suggestions, too. Find the feature in WichiTalk each Wednesday, and if you know someone who could serve as one of our experts, e-mail dneil@wichitaeagle.com.

The recent Midwest Barista Collective Barista Throwdown at Reverie Coffee Roasters, 2611 E. Douglas, drew 12 competitors, and three made the judges’ favorite lattes. First place went to Nick Unruh from Craft Coffee Parlor at 120 N. Main in McPherson. Second place went to Zac Kitson from Metropolitan Coffee at 1329 E. 17th Ave. in Hutchinson. And third went to Reverie’s Tom Murillo. Contestants came from as far away as Winfield and Garden City. Organizers plan more throwdowns and hope to make them a monthly event.

This story was originally published August 13, 2014 at 8:19 PM with the headline "Three events for wine lovers."