Are You In It to Win It? A Seattle Wine & Food Experience Giveaway!

If you haven't yet heard all of the amazing things about the upcoming Seattle Wine & Food Experience, you've obviously been living under a rock (or, you just don't read my blog enough, I posted a great description of the event earlier this month..). This annual event is coming up in just a few short weeks and I've got a chance for you to win a pair of tickets to attend! So think VERY hard about who is worthy enough of attending the event by your side if you win and pay close attention to the details. It's very simple really:

#1. On Facebook? Head on over to the Seattle Wine & Food Experience page and click "like". This will give you updates on various restaurants, wineries, and contests related to the event! Stay in the know...

#2: On Twitter? Follow @SeattleWineFood for more updates and information tidbits.

#3: After you've gotten yourself fully connected to the event and learned about all it has to offer (because c'mon, you really have to want to go if you want to win these tickets!), post a comment on this post with the one thing you are most looking forward to at the event on 2/26.

See, isn't that easy?! This Friday 2/4/12, I'll gather all the names of those who commented and draw one lucky winner. Looking forward to seeing the responses.

Cheers and Good Luck!

2011: Let's Rewind that Wine...

So most people did their 2011 recap posts in the last week of 2011, or even last week (the first week of 2012). Well, I'm not most people and I decided to do mine in the SECOND week of 2012. Because I can. I remember how much fun I had last year re-capping my 2010 Sips & the City posts, and getting to look back on all the fun I had in 2010. Well, 2011 was no different! I had such an amazing year getting to know new people, attending events, learning about various aspects of wine making, and trying some spectacular new wines. And now, my blog is almost a toddler (yes, it will be 2 in March!). Time sure does fly, doesn't it? And now, without further ado.. sit back, relax and enjoy the ride: 2011 in review!

Upcoming Event: 2012 Seattle Wine & Food Experience - Seattle Center Exhibition Hall

Have you missed out on the experience? Well fret no more, as once again the Seattle Wine & Food Experience is back for its 2012 showing. I’m not even remotely kidding when I say that it’s “back and bigger and better than ever”. There are so many new elements to this year’s event that I’m giddy with excitement as I start counting down the days to February 26th, 2012.

The 4th annual event, once again held at the spacious Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, will offer wines from nine regions, with a special focus on Oregon. This is a new twist for a Washington wine event, as we have so many amazing wineries in our backyard that we rarely shift our focus to that sales tax free state to the south. Oregon consistently puts out some amazing wines and I’m definitely looking forward to exploring this region (albeit in Seattle and not IN Oregon wine country.. I need to work on that.) at this year’s Wine & Food Experience. The new elements added this year include:

• Distillery Row – featuring a dozen craft distilleries
• Chef demo stage emceed by Chef in the Hat Thierry Rautureau
• Artisan Food "Shop" – a dozen great products locally made for the most part both for sample and sale
• The 6-7-8 Audi Lounge featuring Taylor Shellfish Oyster bar paired with sparkling wine
• Fonte Coffee Lounge
• Live music by the group FOUR
• The Beef Bistro - featuring Trellis, Andaluca, The Capital Grill, LUC
• Special Wine Region: OREGON (more than 30 Oregon wineries in one area)
• Stella Artois – serving up beer in their signature glasses
• Beer and cider exhibit

The greatest part of this event is the vast variety of wine regions present to taste. While, of course, there will be plenty of Washington wineries pouring at the event, there are the 30+ Oregon wineries as well as other regions around the world. At last year’s event, I made an effort to eat as much as possible (sometimes I neglect the food at these events. What can I say, I like the vino.) and limit my tastings only to wineries that I had never tried before. It was a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to taking the same approach this year!

Admission to the Seattle Wine & Food Experience is just $49 per person and includes access to all areas of the event and all of the yummy food and wine/beer/cider/deliciousness tastes. Get your tickets here and help support The Giving Grapes Foundation, a 501c3 organization that assists local charities who provide financial assistance to service industry professionals who have to take time off work due to injury or illness. C’mon, it’s hip to have fun in the name of charity, so get your tickets before they sell out and I’ll see you there!

(look for me near the food…. Well OK, the wine too.)

Sips on the Road: Sonoma Valley Wine Country

Many don’t know that I spent a few years living down in the Bay Area in California. This was truly my first “wine country” experience, as prior to this I had not done any tasting in Washington State even. While I lived in California, I made one trip to Napa and one to Sonoma and I was delighted to have the opportunity to visit Sonoma County once again to experience California Wine Country (I know, I cheated on Washington, don’t tell!). I headed down back in early November for a weekend of Football (Go Cougs!) and wine along with my friend Alison. We made the most of our wine day and I actually managed to catch my flight on time!

(See ya SF! Headed to Sonoma!)