Q. How long has wine been a serious focus for your attentions?

A. Mike: I moved to Portland in 1973. In 1974 I visited my first area vineyard and have been a fan of Northwest Wines ever since. I soon joined clubs and began studying wines. Carol: Mike and I met in 1994 at a Wine Tasting. I too had a passion for wines. Today most of our vacations as well as free time is spent studying and appreciating the fine wines of this region.

Q. Tell me about the clubs that you belong to that focus on wine.

A. Mike: I have been a board member of the International Food & Wine Society, Portland Chapter. In 1991 I was named a Knight in the Brotherhood of the Knights of the Vine, which is now called the Oregon Wine Brotherhood.

Q. You started Wine Tours Northwest several years ago, what was your motivation?

A. We saw a need for personalized tours of Northwest wineries. Since that time we've had great success sharing our love and appreciation of Northwest wines with travelers as well as local wine enthusiasts wanting to know more about this region.

Q. What's does a typical tour include?

A. Each tour is individualized to match the interests of our guests. But typically, we travel by van or bus to five or six wineries where we sample a wide array of varietals. We share our knowledge with our guests as to how to identify and know the characteristics of the different wines available.

Q. What benefit do you think your tours can offer to a restaurant owner?

A. Without a doubt, a restaurant's waitstaff will sell more wines if they have an appreciation and understanding about the wines. We love to take a restaurant's waitstaff on a one-day tour and educate them about the amenities of our local wines. We are also available to come to the restaurant and do a seminar.

Q. Restaurant managers are always looking for incentives to reward their employees, how can Wine Tours Northwest fit in?

A. Our tours are fun and enjoyable and the perfect way to reward employees for their hard work.

Q. You have a tour for waitstaff being organized at this time, tell us about it.

A. On June 26 we organized a tour leaving from the Portland area to tour 5 or 6 of the Willamette Valley's choicest wineries. We will focus on learning about the characteristics of Willamette Valley wines. This tour is perfect for restaurant food and beverage managers as well as waitstaff. It is open to the first 38 respondents and is being offered at a reduced rate of $50 for readers of Northwest Hospitality News.

Q. Besides the Willamette Valley, what other tours do you offer?

A. Washington State Tours as well as tours to the Napa Valley in California. Call Wine Tours Northwest at 503.439.8687 to arrange for a tour.

Reprinted with permission from Northwest Hospitality News (800.685.1932.)