Business notes: March 23, 2011

Sample the newest releases from Naked/Outdoor Wino: "Picnic Table Pink," "Wanderlust White" and "Rambling Red," which come in unbreakable, floatable bottles. (The red wine was initially labeled "Campground Red" but had to be changed for copyright reasons.)

Emily Knudson, events manager for Naked, said Outdoor Wino, aka "Naked West," will offer casual tastings of the three wines, from noon to 5 p.m. Friday through Saturday, in a "campground experience."

"It's a place adults can just come and enjoy wine and chill," she said.

In Passport Weekend, April 1-3, more than 26 Gorge wineries offer barrel tastings, discounts, gifts, music and more.

Passports are $15 and available online or at Gorge tasting rooms. For details go to www.columbiagorgewine.com.

Chamber hosts marketing talk March 28

Kerry Cobb, executive director of Hood River County Chamber of Commerce, will give a talk on "Guerilla Marketing" March 28 at 1 p.m. at Skylight Theatre in Andrew's Pizza, 107 Oak St.

"Most business owners didn't go into business to market, so we want to give the tools you need to succeed at marketing. Come out and get some great advice about how to get the word out about who you are," Cobb said.

To sign up call 541-386-2000, ext. 224.

Outside honors Hood River's ECHO Trips

ECHO River Trips is getting its 40th anniversary season started off right by winning Outside Magazine's coveted 2011 Trips of the Year award. Out of hundreds of applicants covering everything from treks and rides to paddles and climbs, Outside picked ECHO's new 15-day Siberian rafting expedition on Russia's Kaa-Khem River as one of their 10 best trips of 2011.

Outside's 2011 Trips of the Year award recognizes the top 10 new trips of 2011 as decided by the editors of Outside Magazine, widely regarded as the premier publication covering the outdoor adventure lifestyle. Outside's judging panel considered many applicants before narrowing it down to their top 10 trips, which included ECHO's Siberian Rafting Expedition alongside paddling, climbing, heli-skiing, biking, and multisport adventures in places like Alaska, Patagonia, Africa, Mongolia, Bhutan, the French Alps and Polynesia.

Acupuncture workshop offered

Information on acupuncture and Oriental medicine as a complete health care system as well as instruction of self-acupressure techniques for common ailments will be provided at a free workshop April 4.

The workshop will be presented by Carola Stepper, LAc, and owner of Cascade Acupuncture Center, 104 Fifth St., Hood River. It will start at 7 p.m. in the Bamboo Room. Class size is limited. Call 541-387-4325 to register. (www.cascadeacupuncture.org)