20something Wine Tasting Was A Ball!

I've been to a whole lot of wine tastings, but never one quite like 20something, a pour-a-thon put on by the Washington Wine Commission.

This annual event is a smash hit, selling out every year, and I can see why. It's a big, loud, fun party where winemakers mix and mingle with the well-dressed crowd. Kind of like speed dating, they offer to pour samples for this target audience. This kind of set up was perfect for a little one-on-one with winemakers and their crews. I learned a whole lot about vineyards where the grapes were grown, the blends of varietals used to create the distinctive wines and even tips on what food matched with the wines.

If you liked what you tried, then there was no need to be shy. 20something sippers asked the folks holding the bottles for a card and those cards had all the info, including the full name of the wine, the vintage and the price. Brilliant idea!

Another smooth move? The stemless glasses tasters were given at the door. These are just about the best thing to come along since the Rabbit corkscrew. Well, maybe they predate that gizmo, showing up about 10 years ago. I'm a big fan of having a variety of glassware, including the stemless versions. Still, you don't often see them out in bars and restaurants. Maybe they should be.

There were nibbles and bites from various chefs and cheese makers, and, of course, there were cupcakes. Now, what wine goes best with Red Velvet? Like I said, one of this was one of the most entertaining wine tastings I've ever been to.

-- Leslie Kelly