Enjoy dinner and great wine
Taste Washington Winemaker Dinner is the culinary event of the year
One of the beautiful things about the Washington wine industry is its youth. Another is its family ties. Of the seven labels featured at this year’s Taste Washington Winemaker Dinner, all have deep ties to the state, and many are operated by multiple generations of their founding families.
These families all show a true love and commitment to the craft of winemaking, and it’s a great honor to bring their vintages together at our touchstone culinary event. This year’s Taste Washington Winemaker Dinner takes place at 6 pm on Saturday, March 30, in the Crystal Ballroom. Tickets sold out last year, and the booking window is now open. Reserve at catering@wac.net or 206.464.3050: $135 members, $145 for guests.
Each year, when choosing which winemakers to invite to the Taste Washington Dinner, we focus on showcasing a diversity of styles and appellations. With 13 official American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) acknowledged by the Washington Wine Commission, our state delivers everything from dry whites to robust reds.
A review of the wineries set to appear at our gala event on Saturday, March 30, includes:
Hightower Cellars, Benton City
hightowercellars.com
Founded 1997
Forgeron Cellars, Redmond
forgeroncellars.com
Founded 2001
Milbrandt Vineyards, Prosser
milbrandtvineyards.com
Founded 1997
Walla Walla Vintners, Walla Walla
wallawallavintners.com
Founded 1995
L’Ecole No. 41, Lowden
lecole.com
Founded 1983
Idilico Wine (sister brand of Pomum Cellars), Woodinville
idilicowine.com
Founded 2009
Passing Time Winery, Woodinville
passingtime.com
Founded in 2014
This year’s keynote presenter at the dinner will be Scott Haladay of Walla Walla Vintners. Haladay is a wonderful example of some of the new blood stepping into the Washington wine industry. After a successful technology career, he purchased Walla Walla Vintners in 2017. The winery recently hired Derrek Vipond away from Long Shadows Vintners. Vipond accepted the role of head winemaker after serving as assistant at Long Shadows.
These are exciting times for Washington wine, and the Taste Washington Winemaker Dinner offers WAC members and their guests an annual update on this incredible industry. Join us for wonderful pours paired with enlightening conversation and delicious food.
Along with WAC Executive Chef Eric Floyd, guest chefs Danna Hwang of Peony Kitchen and Pat Donahue of Anthony’s Restaurants will dazzle with their culinary creations, the perfect complement to this intimate evening of food and wine.
