This week we will be featuring Washington winery NOVELTY HILL. STILLWATER SEMILLON - $17.99 - (reg. $19.99) - Winemakers Tasting Notes: Aromas of melon and a hint of buttrscotch wrap around a juicy core of melon, fresh fig and honey. The finish is polished and round.

COLUMBIA VALLEY MERLOT - $20.99 (reg. $22.99) - Deep, rich black cherry, raspberry and mocha aromas and flavors linger beautifully across a long, focused finish. Refined, well-integrated tannins add to the wines polish and grace. Mike Januik, Winemaker

COLUMBIA VALLEY CABERNET - $23.99 (reg. $25.99) - Winemakers Notes: Rich and densely packed, this darkly hued beauty is loaded with ripe plum, black cherry and baking spice aromas and flavors that continue across a long, harmonious finish.

COLUMBIA VALLEY SYRAH - $20.99 (REG. $22.99) - Bold and mouth-filling, this dense, earthy wine is loaded with spice and ripe, fruit-forward black cherry and plum aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, the finish is long and lush. Mike Januik, Winemaker

We hope you can join us to celebrate one of Washington's wine during Washington Wine Month.

OK the name Century Club is a little confusing. This isn't some exclusive club that you have to join - all you have to do is JOIN THE FUN! Maybe we should really call it our WACKY WINE tasting.

On Fridays we have two wines to taste that are not your ordinary varietals. This is a fun way to explore the wonderful world of wine and be a little adventuresome at the same time.

This week we will be introducing: Strohmeier Schilchersekt 100% BLAUER WILDBACHER (Schilcher) A speciality of western Styria in southern Austria. The variety has been increasingly popular with growers and almost all of it is made into the local pink speciality, Schilcher wine, enlivened by Wildbacher's high acidity and distinctive perfume. This Schilchersekt is a unique sparkling rose wine. It has strawberry and cassis aromas with hints of spice, and is perfect with shellfish and smoked fish or as an apertif.

Our other find will be: Cantine Lonardo Taurasi GRECOMUSC'. Vinification ----- Fermentation: the grapes, with slight maceration on the peel, ferment with native leavens. Afterwards, the wine is sharpened in tonneau of 5 hectolitres for approximately 4 months. At the second decanting, the wine stays in steel for 2 months, and afterwards it is filtered and bottled. Sharpening: 4 months in wood, 2 months in steel. Bottling: without stabilizing treatment but with filtration. Organoleptic Characteristics ------- Colour: Limpid, with straw-coloured yellow reflections, it increases of intensity with the sharpening in bottle Nose: Intense and persistent herbaceous scents with notes of almonds, citruses and mela annurca and notes toasted in the final. With the aging it assumes notes of peach, emphasizing the toasting notes Palate: The opening is fresh and intensely tasty, with an high mineral makings. The notes of citrus become more marked with the aging. (information from the Cantine Lonardo website)

So, join the FUN and get your checklist going with the wines we offer on Fridays.

Kick Off Des Moines' 50th Birthday at the Black Tie Gala! *****Saturday, March 21 at 6 pm***** Highline Community College ----- Black tie optional, come as you are! ----- Come celebrate the City of Des Moines as we kick off a year-long series of birthday events with the Black Tie Gala on March 21 at Highline Community College. Join fellow residents, the mayor, and council members for a lively evening of dinner, dancing and live entertainment with the Frank Sinatra stylings of vocalist Joey Jewell. A silent auction will also be held with proceeds benefiting birthday events taking place throughout 2009. Tickets, which include dinner, are $75 per person or $560 for a table of eight (save $5 per ticket!). Purchase your tickets today and share in the celebration of a milestone for our city! To purchase tickets and for more information: Call: 206-870-6527 ----- Email: recreation@desmoineswa.gov ----- Web: www.desmoines50th.com --- Visit: Parks & Recreation Office (1000 S. 220th Street) Monday-Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, CorkyCellars (22511 Marine View Drive) Tuesday-Saturday from 11 am to 6:30 pm

Waterland Music Series ----- April 21st, 7 pm ----- The Main Attraction an a cappella vocal group will be performing at the Highline College Performing Arts Center. $15 adults and $5 for students.