Bellino Trattoria Hosts Sicilian Wine Dinner; Apolloni Vineyards Throws Solstice Party

BELLINO TRATTORIA —You can dive deep into Sicilian wines this Thursday, May 28, when the brand-new Bellino Trattoria in the Pearl hosts sommelier Penny Murray, who is the brand ambassador and export director for Planeta Winery, a 20-year-old family-owned winery based in Sicily. She'll be traveling from Palermo to pour and discuss Planeta wines grown in Sicily's four distinct wine regions. Learn about how the island's geography and soil types influence the grapes, while dining on a five-course Sicilian meal. The dinner is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and costs $65 per person, not including gratuity. For reservations for the Planeta Wine Dinner, call Bellino at 503-208-2992.

APOLLONI — Raise a glass to long, sunny days when Apolloni Vineyards in Forest Grove hosts its Summer Solstice White Out Party the evening of Saturday June 20. At the event, the winery will introduce its brand-new, small-batch, L Label white wines, which include pinot gris, muscat, blanc de noirs and fete blanc. Dress all in white, pop in anytime between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., pony up $35 per person, and enjoy a flight of L label whites plus a glass of your favorite wine to sip alongside a boxed dinner from Pollo Norte. Space is limited. To snag a spot email tonetta@apolloni.com.

BLUE STAR — Friday, June 5, is National Donut Day, and Blue Star Donuts is creating a special flavor in honor of this hallowed day in history (which, apparently, originated in 1938 to honor volunteers who gave donuts to soldiers during World War I. Who knew?). The limited edition Rose Donut, which is also in honor of the Rose Festival, features a glaze made with rosé wine "with a hint of floral and tart citrus." You can get it at all Blue Star locations from Friday, June 5 through Sunday, June 14, the final day of the Rose Fest. And if you visit this Friday, 10 percent of all proceeds will go to The Dougy Center, which helps grieving children and families.