It's the time of year when I clean out my wine file, which contains all the bits that never quite made a previous column but that will make great fodder for this one. First, I should note I received a lot of good responses to my beer column two weeks ago, an indication people who read wine columns also are beer lovers. I'll try to do another beer column down the road. I've noticed recently that cigar smoking is becoming chic -even meriting a lead article in Newsweek.
Many wine magazines feature articles and advertisements on cigars.
I smoke about a dozen high-quality stogies a year and enjoy them the most after a grand holiday meal. Normally, I write a late July column on the Washington State Liquor Commission's annual Washington wine month, which traditionally has been August. This year, the state is observing Washington wine month in September, so look for a column Aug. 27 on wines the state liquor stores will feature at special prices. The sale is a good time to stock up on a case of wine because dozens of wines are offered at bargain prices. Several of the country's large premium wineries are hooking up with small foreign wineries and marketing their generally inexpensive wines.