Upcoming Event: Seattle Wine & Food Experience 2019 - February 21st to 24th - Various Locations

I’m back to writing after a hiatus that brought me the most adorable and happy tiny human just in time to provide details on one of my favorite events of the year! The Seattle Wine & Food Experience (SWFE) is back this year with another event added to its already stellar list of delicious activities. Over the course of four days February 21^st-February 24^th 2019, guests will able to nosh at Comfort, POP! Bubbles & Seafood, The Grand Tasting and the new Sunday Supper.

An Afternoon of Rosé and Grenache Blanc at Taste Washington 2017

We enjoyed the 20^th vintage of Taste Washington last weekend and it delighted attendees with tastes and bites as it always does. I attended Sunday this year and I took the same approach that I have the past few years, and ventured out to try wines from wineries that I had never heard of before. With 225+ in attendance, there were many of them! The winery count in Washington has grown significantly in the past several years and it’s been exciting to try new things from our new up and coming winemakers and wineries.

Upcoming Event: Taste Washington 2017 - March 23rd to 26th - Various Locations

As we celebrate March as Taste Washington Wine Month, an annual month-long celebration of Washington State’s award winning wine industry, we get eager with anticipation of what’s coming up soon. Taste Washington, the nation’s largest single-region wine and food event, celebrates its 20^th Anniversary in 2017 with four days of wine, culinary delights, and education. With so much packed into such a short period, it gets difficult to choose what to attend (or just opt for the Connoisseur pass and attend all of the signature events!). But I’m here to give you a little insight into what will be happening for this year’s multi-day event so you can make your choices with ease.

Another Year of Great Experiences at the Seattle Wine & Food Experience Grand Tasting

The 9^th year of the Seattle Wine & Food Experience (SWFE) was a huge success, a three-day weekend extravaganza that wrapped up with the Grand Tasting at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. This year’s Grand Tasting was a blast. In Seattle Magazine’s first year at the helm, we saw a different layout and very diverse offerings in the world of wine, beer, cider and spirits. So many options, so little time… but may I present a few of the stops I made that stood out at this year’s Grand Tasting.

Upcoming Event: 2017 Seattle Wine and Food Experience Weekend - February 24th - 26th, 2017

2017 is off to a great start and what better way to kick off the year than to start talking about this year’s delectable food and wine events that are coming up. The 2017 Seattle Wine and Food Experience (SWFE) has grown this year into a 3-day festival, offering a full spectrum of Seattle’s culinary and craft beverage scene. Founded in 2009, SWFE has exploded into a premier event that is not to be missed. Under Seattle magazine’s new ownership, the footprint of the event is  growing to reach a wider audience and showcase the city through its incredible food and beverage scene. Each event “experience” is vastly different, so you can attend the one that fits your palate, or make a weekend of it and attend all three.

Upcoming Event: 1st Annual Holiday Wine Fest - Nov 12th & 13th, 2016 - Seattle Center Exhibition Hall

The holidays are just about upon us and what better way to celebrate than toasting to the season with some amazing wine?  The 1st Annual Holiday Wine Fest,  a Global Celebration of Wine will be held Saturday and Sunday November 12th and 13th at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. This all-day Saturday and Sunday event features a world-class line-up of local, regional, national and international wines, ciders, spirits, gourmet cuisine and artisan vendors.  With half the offerings from Washington and the other half international, you’re sure to find a new favorite to share at the Thanksgiving table and the plethora of Christmas parties that are coming up! The event will be held over three sessions, with two on Saturday the 12th and one on Sunday the 13th. You will also have the opportunity to purchase your favorite new wine, cider or spirit at the event and take it home with you!

Festival Tasting Sessions:

Saturday, Nov. 12:  Noon – 4pm ($40 admission)

Saturday, Nov. 12:  5pm – 9pm ($45 admission)
Sunday, Nov. 13:    Noon – 4pm ($40 admission)

For an entire list (and it’s a long one!) of the local and international wineries, cideries, breweries and distilleries pouring at the event, visit the event website. This event benefits City Fruit, which promotes the cultivation of urban fruit in order to nourish people, build community, and protect the climate.

To purchase tickets, click here. Tickets include unlimited wine, cider, beer, and spirits tasting, a tasting glass, culinary samples and artisan shopping. Come celebrate the world of wine November 12th & 13th at the inaugural Holiday Wine Fest!

The Delights and New Finds of Taste Washington 2016!

I attended this year’s Taste Washington Grand Taste on Sunday, which was a change from years past when we went for the Saturday tasting. I will say, the lack of crowds on Sunday made it quite the enjoyable experience! It was nice to have the ability to stop and chat with winemakers and actually taste through several wines without feeling rushed to step out of the way for the next person in line. It’s always a challenge to learn a lot about what you’re tasting at busy events like this, but I had a great time this year with the lesser Sunday crowd! As I have in the past few years, I made my focus trying wines from wineries I either had never heard of, or just had not had a chance to try yet. Boy oh boy did this work out in my favor as I found several great Washington wines that I can’t wait to try more of! I always walk into the Grand Taste with my go-to stops mapped out, so that I can make sure to hit the ones I have identified in advance. I took that approach once again this year, and managed to make it to many of the wineries and restaurants I had mapped out!

Upcoming Event: 6th Annual Cabernet Classic - February 6th, 2016 - Porche Bellevue

The “King of Grapes” is on showcase this next Saturday February 6^th, as Seattle Uncorked hosts the 6^th Annual Cabernet Classic! Elegant wines need an elegant location in which to be enjoyed, so this year’s event is being held at the new Porche Bellevue from 6-9pm. The event features 28 of Washington’s most exclusive wineries and will include Cabernets and Cab based blends from current releases and library selections. To top it off, guests will enjoy an easy arrival and departure with complimentary valet parking from Butler Valet.

Wineries pouring at this year’s Cabernet Classic include:

Alleromb

Avennia
Den Hoed

Ambassador Vineyard

Betz Family Winery

Bunnell Family Cellar

Corlis/Tranche

Côte Bonneville

DeLille Cellars

Dunham Cellars

EFESTE’

Fidelitas

Figgins Estate

Five Star Cellars

Hedges Family Estates

J. Bookwalter Winery

L’Ecole No. 41

Mullan Road (Cakebread)

Obelisco Estate

Pepper Bridge Winery

Reininger Winery

Smasne Cellars

Sparkman Cellars

Upchurch Vineyard

Va Piano Vineyards

Walla Walla Vintners

Waters Winery

Woodward Canyon Winery

Tickets are $100 and net proceeds from the event benefit Talk It Up TV and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. More information on the event and tickets are available here.

The Happenings - Upcoming Seattle Area Events!

I’m aliiiiiiveeee! Sorry folks (all 5 of you who read this), this summer was quite the spectacle what with my broken wrist and whatnot. Fun fact: typing is downright horrible when you only have one hand to use… so yeah.. in any event, I am back! And what better foray back into things than a little post on some of the upcoming tasty events happening in the Seattle area (and beyond). We’re going across the alcohol palate tonight, and looking at an upcoming wine, beer and cider event (I will just put them in order of when they are happening)! Without further ado…

Upcoming Event: Rosé Revival & Other Cool Whites - June 18th, 2015 - Ray's Boathouse

Well, the days are longer, the the sun is shining, there's far too many people in "Suns Out, Guns Out" tank tops, and the temperature has reached a level where Seattlites start complaining; it must be summer! And with summer we start discriminating against our wines and long for only whites and rosés. Because come on, who wants to drink room temperature liquid when it's 90 degrees outside? Your troubles are no more! Look no further than Rosé Revival on June 18th at Ray's Boathouse. Held on a beautiful dock that is part of the event space adjacent to the restaurant, you're treated to a beautiful sunset and over a hundred rosé and white wines from 30+ different wineries. In addition to Northwest wineries (the list can be found here) there will also be a table with wines from Italy, France Argentina, Australia, and more. This is the 13th vintage of this great summer event, where attendees get to say no to reds! (Seriously, there are no red wines poured at this event!)

This year's event includes a 5 p.m. early VIP entry ($50/ticket) limited to just 50 people (with the general admission ($35/ticket) starting at 6 p.m.). If you're tired of bumping elbows with other people while trying to get your next taste then try out this option! Also, all advance ticket purchasers (VIP or GA) get a ticket for Wild Salmon Sliders and other snacks from Ray's Boathouse! Like what you're tasting? There will be a wine store onsite so you can take home your favorites!

I attended this event last year and really liked the small intimate nature of it. Sure, the big wine tasting events are fun and offer a huge variety, but the small events give you a chance to learn a little bit more about the wines you're tasting. Less people means a better chance to talk to the winemakers. The view doesn't hurt either, who doesn't like sipping wine while staring out at Puget Sound? So let's hope for a beautiful night like we had last year and get your tickets now for this year's Rosé Revival & Other Cool Whites on June 18th!

Upcoming Event: 2015 Taste Washington - 3/26 to 3/29/2015 - Various Locations

We have kicked off March of 2015 and Washington Wine Month is in full effect! Who doesn’t love an entire month dedicated to the amazing wines that are produced from our great state? One of the best parts of Washington Wine Month is that it is capped off with Taste Washington, the nation’s largest single region wine and food event. Taste Washington is so much more than just the Grand Taste. This year’s 4-day extravaganza, held March 26^th through 29^th, includes several different events where you can sip some of the finest wines Washington’s many AVAs have to offer. So let’s a take a look see at all the fun, shall we?

Upcoming Event: 2015 Seattle Wine & Food Experience - 2/22/15 - Seattle Center Exhibition Hall

Ladies and gents, it’s go time again! The Seattle Wine & Food Experience (SWFE)(@SeattleWineFood) kicks off the 2015 event season on Sunday February 22^nd with all of the delectable food and beverages that we have come to know and love at this event. The seventh vintage of this event will once again be held at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall (12-5pm VIP, 1-5pm General Admission), which has been home to all of the delicious offerings for many years. As I’ve mentioned in past posts about SWFE, one of the best parts of this event is that it isn’t just Washington specific. SWFE brings in wines, beers and spirits from around the U.S. and around the world. This allows guests a great opportunity to try things they may never come across at any other Seattle tasting event.

Hear, Hear to a New Year!

Happy 2015! I’m back party people! OK, so I've been a less than stellar blogger as of late and I apologize for that to the many readers (well, all 5 of you) of Sips & The City. I put it in writing in my Christmas letter that I vowed to write more this year, so I am going to make good on that promise. First off, some changes. My wonderful beer expert Ally has gotten hitched and flown the coop to Florida, so I am once again alone in my Seattle (and beyond!) tasting adventures. You will probably see the occasional beer post from me, but the person that actually knows her stuff about beer likely won’t be contributing as she has in the past. But fear not, I live with a male that enjoys the brews, so there may be some times where he gets to provide some insight into a post that I write. We’ll see where the wind blows us!

Now for the good stuff, as in what’s coming up on Sips & The City! Here’s what the next few posts have in store:

-The 2015 Seattle Wine & Food Experience (SWFE) is coming up February 22^nd. Post coming next week with details on the event and a chance to win tickets!

- Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and love & booze have always gone hand in hand (am I right?!). Looking for some ideas on what to enjoy with that special someone on everyone’s favorite Hallmark holiday? Look no further. Well, come back and look further when I get the post on it up…

-2015 Taste Washington is coming up before we know it, this year happening March 28^th and 29^th. A post on this year’s event details and information on seminars coming soon.

-A post on the big picture of wine in the U.S. Just a teaser for now, look for the real deal in the future!

-And as always, Sips on the Road whenever I travel somewhere and have the opportunity to try a new winery, brewery or spirit (aka I need to travel more..)

Looking forward to a great 2015 and all of the events, tastes, and fun adventures I’ll be able to write about. Cheers and I’ll be seeing you SOON!

Upcoming Event: 2nd Annual BREW Seattle - October 10th - Fremont Foundry

 It’s no secret that Seattle has become quite the beer focused city. The number of breweries located within Seattle city limits has exploded to a staggering 43 (according to a list put together by the Washington Beer Commission) and many of those have appeared just within the past few years. As more and more people “think local”, they look to local breweries for variations of their favorite microbrews and shun the big name beers found on supermarket shelves. Well, Seattle Magazine’s BREW Seattle on October 10^th, 2014 brings local to the masses. This 2^nd annual event presented by BevMo (@BevMo) showcases Seattle beer and only Seattle beer. The event is the largest tasting that honors Seattle beer history and only breweries that brew within the city are invited. There are even a few cideries thrown into the mix since, as we know, the term “gluten-free” is quite popular in our fine city. Included in your ticket price is delicious tastes from over 20 local breweries and unlimited BBQ (yes, I said unlimited and BBQ in the same sentence. Commence happy dance!) provided by Pinky’s Kitchen (@pinkyskitchen). No picked over finger foods here folks. This event provides beer AND tons of BBQ in one happy package. Where else can you get that? This year’s event is also being held at the new Fremont Foundry (@fremontfoundry), a beautiful new venue that I know I’ve been eager to check out. Tickets are just $40 and can be purchased here. Want to follow details about the event on the Twitter? Check out hashtag #BREWSeattle for the latest news and info.

But WAIT, there’s more! Everyone knows free is the best price, so Sips & The City is giving away a pair of tickets to this beer-tastic event! Feeling lucky? Just leave a comment to this post and tell me what your favorite Seattle brewery is. Easy as that. Make sure to leave your email address so I can contact you with details on how to claim your prize if you win! A random drawing from all comments received will be done Thursday October 2^nd. Good luck!

A glimpse of the fun from last year's BREW Seattle!

Upcoming Event: Bacon and Beer Classic- May 17th- Safeco Field- America's Nostalgia of Baseball, Meets it's Love for Bacon & Beer

I don’t know about you, reader but I LOVE Bacon and Beer and could not be more excited for this first ever event brought to Seattle by Cannonball Productions.  The Bacon and Beer classic will be held in two sessions at Safeco Field May 17^th.  If the name of this event alone hasn’t convinced you to buy your tickets right now, continue reading the details below!

Upcoming Event: Taste Washington 2014 - March 29th & 30th - CenturyLink Field Event Center

It’s Washington wine month once again (or #WAWineMonth to those of us Twitter savvy folk) and you know what that means: TASTE WASHINGTON IS NEAR! Every year, the month of March gives us a month-long celebration of Washington’s award winning wine industry. The month ends with the biggest and baddest wine event of the year. The 17^th annual Taste Washington (@TasteWashington) is the largest single-region wine and food event in the United States, featuring more than 225 Washington State wineries and more than 65 Pacific Northwest restaurants. There are, in fact, so many wineries and restaurants at this event that if you don’t go in with a game plan you’re going to be wide eyed and overwhelmed trying to decide what to try next (trust me on this, map it out in advance, CenturyLink Field Event Center is a large facility!).

Another Winner in the Books: The 2014 Seattle Wine & Food Experience Had Something for Everyone

This year’s Seattle Wine & Food Experience (@seattlewinefood) was nothing short of DELICIOUS. To re-cap: Meat wins, Skittles pair well with riesling, cheese lounges are my happy place, I’m so happy it’s rosé season, and the new signs led the way! What does all that mean? Well, read on…

2014 Seattle Wine & Food Experience Wine Awards Results Announced!

While the Seattle Wine & Food Experience (@SeattleWineFood) is still a few (very short) days away, the first annual Wine Awards for the event were announced today! Though not all wineries pouring at the event chose to enter their wines in the inaugural Seattle Wine and Food Experience wine competition, more than 60 wineries submitted 150+ wines for the awards in a variety of styles from red and white to sparkling and dessert. The wines were tasted and awarded medals by Great Northwest Wine’s (@GreatNWWine) tasting panel, led by longtime Northwest wine journalists Andy Perdue and Eric Degerman. The judges conducted the tasting under blind conditions. "The awards program was created to give wineries an opportunity to have their wines tasted by top wine professionals on the West Coast,” said Jamie Peha, president of Peha Promotions, TableTalk Northwest and producer of SWFE. "Because Seattle Wine and Food Experience is open to all wine regions it gives wineries an opportunity to be tasted on a broader scale.”

Upcoming Event: 2014 Seattle Wine & Food Experience - 2/23/14 - Seattle Center Exhibition Hall

The spring event season is upon us once again, with some of Washington’s best tasting events coming up over the next few months. Prime your pallet and work juuuust a little harder at the gym the next few weeks, because you will not want to miss the 2014 edition of the Seattle Wine & Food Experience (@SeattleWineFood), happening on Sunday February 23rd (12-5pm VIP, 1-5pm General Admission). The event is back in action at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, which has been its home for several years.

All the Happenings: Upcoming Events - Fall 2013

Well the fall “wine season” is upon us and you know what that means? Well it’s harvest time for starters, those 2013 grapes are ripening up and about to start making their way toward wineries all over the state. I hear that a record harvest could be on the horizon for 2013! That means more wine and less sell-outs from your favorite winery when it comes time for the 2013 wines to hit the shelf! The fall season also brings a whole slew of events, both wine and beer related (and don’t forget our old pal cider!) worthy of mentioning. So mark your calendars and get your tickets, these events are sure to sell out.