Washington State Wine is flying the #WAwine flag this March for Taste Washington Wine Month. What better excuse to proudly taste Washington Wine? More than 500 wineries, restaurants, hotels and retailers are jumping on board with special events and promotions all month long. Here is my short list of curated events to help lay the groundwork for a month of revelry.

Women + Wine Event at the Riveter Capitol Hill

Thursday, March 14
6-8:30 pm
Some of the state’s top women in wine are showcasing their wines and businesses at this event. With stellar wineries such as Callan Cellars and Brook & Bull being represented, I for one am looking forward to this inspiring networking event produced by Belle & Bottle!

Damsel Cellars Mystery Case Offer

You likely know I’m a big supporter of Winemaker, Mari Womack if you follow my Instagram feed. I am also a fan of her marketing savvy, offering a mystery case of wine as a Washington Wine Month promotion. For $250 (minimum 25% savings guaranteed), each box features at least 2 special Library wines, plus a mix of current wines and wine club offerings. How fun is that?

Taste Washington New Vintage

Friday, March 29
7-10pm
According to the web site, “The New Vintage is an unforgettable experience that delivers stories in the form of food and wine.” Formerly targeting the next generation of wine drinkers, this event appears to have grown up a bit. Seattle star chefs Edouardo Jordan (JuneBaby), Ethan Stowell (Ethan Stowell Restaurants) and Rachel Yang (Joule) will be offering up bites to eat. Not only that, they have invited chef friends from around the country to join them. One of those chefs is Vivian Howard of the PBS show, A Chef’s Life. The series was a lesson in Southern ingredients and elevated cooking that had me glued to each episode. Apologies in advance if I have a fan girl moment over her!

Taste Washington Seminars

Saturday, March 30 & Sunday, March 31
10:30am – 12:00pm

One of my favorite wine geek events of Taste Washington has always been the seminars. This year’s topics include “Through the Grapevine: Lessons Learned from A Lifetime in Washington Wine” moderated by beloved Washington Wine Guru and Master of Wine, Bob Betz. Panelists include Ted Baseler formerly of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Gary Figgins of Leonetti Cellar, Rick Small of Woodward Canyon, and Betsey Wittick, Bainbridge Vineyards.

Taste Washington Grand Tasting

Saturday and Sunday, March 30-31
1:30pm-6pm VIP | 2:30pm-6pm General Admission

Of course, if you love Washington Wine and want to experience as much as you can the Grand Tasting is not to be missed! Pro tip: sip and spit.

Avennia Wine Dinner at Cortina

Sunday, March 24
6-9pm

We kicked off Washington Wine Month at a fantastic winemaker dinner at mkt., an Ethan Stowell Restaurant. Chef Jessica Rudell elevated both the wine and the food with dishes such as Eggplant Ravioli paired perfectly with the Avennia Gravura Bordeaux Style Blend. If you missed out be sure to make reservations for the wine dinner at Cortina, one of newest additions to Ethan Stowell Restaurants.

Alternatively, if you want to celebrate Washington Wine at home, pick up some selections from your local winery or wine shop. Try my picks for some Walla Walla wines to get to know!

If you’re in Seattle and want to do more exploring, head to my six stops for wine lovers.

Whatever you do, be sure to share your favorite experiences on social media using the hashtag guide to Washington Wine Month. Let’s talk about #WAwine!