The largest single-region food- and wine-tasting event in the nation took over Seattle for the 18th year this spring. With more than 65 restaurants and 225 wineries participating—that’s almost a quarter of the state’s wineries—Taste Washington draws around 5,500 people and takes the entire year to plan, says Kauilani Robinson, public relations manager at Visit Seattle.
The event was first launched in 1998 by the Washington State Wine Commission and is now produced by Visit Seattle. This year, 300 volunteers and more than 50 exhibitors and sponsors helped put it together.
The four-day celebration kicked off with two wine parties: the Red and White Party at AQUA by El Gaucho restaurant on March 26, and The New Vintage event at Four Seasons Hotel Seattle on March 27. New this year, the Taste Washington on the Farm lunch series offered visitors a chance to meet local farmers, winemakers, chefs and other food artisans. Visitors also had a chance to attend educational seminars led by wine writers and sommeliers.
The weekend culminated with the Grand Tasting event, a two- day wine-tasting extravaganza featuring hundreds of wineries and food from the region’s top restaurants.
