Taste Washington Seattle is the Washington Wine Commission's biggest event of the the year. On March 23rd and 24th, over two hundred wineries participated. Lynn and I attended the Saturday session as Media representatives.

My strategy was to hit the high profile wineries first to sample their new releases before the big crowds hit. I tasted stellar wines from Andrew Will, Betz Family Winery, Boiudreaux, and Cadence which will be reviewed in the May issue (Taste Washington was too late in the month to go into the April issue which has already been wrapped up). I also looked for new and up-and-coming wineries that I was not yet familiar with. In future issues, I will be reporting on Eight Bells, Silverback Vineyards, ded reckoning, Kevin White, Cairdeas and Ginkgo Forest.

Taste Washington was also an opportunity to see friends, old and new. I ran into Meriann Roberts who was my right hand when I owned Esquin up until 1997. She is now with Vinum Importing, which distributes For a Song wines which she was representing. The irrepressible Charlie Finkel was going around with a container of Pike Brewing ale strapped to his back. Muriel Kenyon was pouring solo for Otis Kenyon, so Lynn got her some oysters while Karma Cellars provided a glass of bubbly. Taste Washington is always a great event with the camaraderie of the wine industry and the enthusiasm of consumers.

 

Next Week: On April 1, the April issue of the Review of Washington Wines will go on line with a report on Red Mountain (including a blog on that AVA) along with new releases from around the state. Watch for it!