Richard Olson III, sommelier for David Paul's Lahaina Grill on Maui, gave up wine for a week recently after 10 days of tasting wine in Napa Valley and the Silverado Trail.

"My palate was dragging," he said, in a restaurant press release.

Restaurant chef/owner Jurg Munch sent Olson and general manager Debbi Moran on the trip, where they experienced many new vintages and did some dining out, too.

Olson is now restructuring the restaurant's wine cellar and teaching the staff about his recent findings, including wines from Miner Family Vineyards, Bressler Vineyards, Revana Family Vineyard, Diter Family Vineyards and Turley Wine Cellars. Next year, he's returning to Napa Valley to pick grapes for Anomaly Winery. "I'll be a grunt, working 12 to 14 hours a day for free, just to learn more about the process," he said.

GRILLING OUT

BRUSH UP FOR 'GO PRO' CONTEST

Are you the baddest barbecuer on the block? If you can back that up, you could win a $10,000 custom-built barbecue setup for your backyard. Kraft Foods, the maker of Bull's-Eye Barbecue Sauce, is hosting a "Can You Go Pro" contest. Entrants need to explain — either by means of a photo and written essay or with a video presentation (DVD or VHS) — what makes them a grilling pro.

Two grand-prize winners, one in each division, will get the barbecue setup. Fifty first-prize winners will get a barbecue tool set. For entry information, go to www.bullseyebbq.com. Contest deadline is July 31.