Explore Great Wine

Trivia For Tickets 2/16/11

2011-02-16T12:00:00.000-08:00

#players = 19 #tweets = 86

@ksimm10391 9pts WINNER
@levaG 7pts
@stevenwoody 6pts
@curtislu 3pts RANDOM WINNER
@sonjagroset 2pts

TforT#5 True or False? To inspect a wine for color, hold it up to a bright source of light such as a clear light bulb or candle
#5 FALSE-best way to inspect a wine for color, hold it up to a white backgroud

TforT #4 T or F? You would expect a warmer glass of wine to have more intense aromas compared to a colder glass of the same wine.
TRUE

TforT ?#3 What is terroir?
Terroir describes the interactions of soil, climate, topography & grape variety in a specific site. Imprints the wine & make it unique.

TforT ?2 Give me a common wine tasting descriptor and it's meaning?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_tasting_descriptors

TforT ?1 What are anthocyannins?
Anthocyannins are pigments found in red grapes & other purplish/red fruits and veggies.They are antioxidants so #drinkup on the #redwine.

The first three people that respond using an @ reply to seattlefoodwine and/or the hashtag #SFWE with the correct answer will be awarded points: 3 points for the first person with a correct answer, 2 for the second, and 1 for the third.

For example:
@seattlefoodwine will send out a Twitter update like, "Q: Which country in Europe produces the most wine?"
You can then send a message back that says, "@seattlefoodwine France"

4. Important - all responses must either include @seattlefoodwine AND #SFWE in order for us to see that you answered.

4. The player with the highest number of points at the end of each Wednesday will win a pair of tickets to the 2011 Seattle Food and Wine Experience.

5. EVERY PERSON who answers a question, comments or RTs will be entered into a RANDOM DRAWING for a pair of tickets.

THE MORE PEOPLE WHO PLAY THE MORE TICKETS WE"LL GIVE AWAY IN THE RANDOM DRAWING!
If up to 20 people play we will give away one pair of tickets in the random draw, if more than 20 people play we will give away two pairs of tickets in the random draw. SPREAD THE WORD!!!

Trivia For Tickets 2/9/11

2011-02-09T16:21:00.000-08:00

#players = 18 #tweets 63

@callmeamydesign - 12pts TRIVIA WINNER!
@paulaj1967 - 8pts - RANDOM WINNER!
@LLamx - 4pt
@itsoffal - 3pts
@jdnorthwest - 2pts
@ReckenRoll - 1pt

TforT #5 Who introduced the first Valentine chocolate box?
Cadbury first introduced the Valentine Box of Chocolates. Are we glad that he did?

Tfot ?#4 True or False? Most European wines are named after the grape varietal.
False, Most European wines are named after the place of production.

TforT ?#3 What is Pecorino?
Pecorino is an Italian cheese made of sheep's milk

TforT ?#2 How many standard 750ml bottles of wine are in a salamanazar?
There are 12 standard bottles (in other words A CASE!) of wine in a salamanazar. Has anyone ever seen or drank from one?

TforT ?#1: True or False: White wines can be made from white or red grapes?
True, as long as the juice is not in prolonged contact w/ the skin of red grapes they can produce a white wine

The first three people that respond using an @ reply to seattlefoodwine and/or the hashtag #SFWE with the correct answer will be awarded points: 3 points for the first person with a correct answer, 2 for the second, and 1 for the third.

For example:
@seattlefoodwine will send out a Twitter update like, "Q: Which country in Europe produces the most wine?"
You can then send a message back that says, "@seattlefoodwine France"

4. Important - all responses must either include @seattlefoodwine AND #SFWE in order for us to see that you answered.

4. The player with the highest number of points at the end of each Wednesday will win a pair of tickets to the 2011 Seattle Food and Wine Experience.

5. EVERY PERSON who answers a question, comments or RTs will be entered into a RANDOM DRAWING for a pair of tickets.

THE MORE PEOPLE WHO PLAY THE MORE TICKETS WE"LL GIVE AWAY IN THE RANDOM DRAWING!
If 25 people play we will give away one pair of tickets in the random draw, if 40 people play we will give away two pairs of tickets in the random draw. If more play we will add additional tickets to the drawing.
SPREAD THE WORD!!!

**Last week we had 18 players and 99 total tweets. Two pairs of tickets were given away, one for the trivia winner and one in a random draw of tweets

Trivia For Tickets 2/2/11

2011-02-02T19:54:00.000-08:00

Rules at the bottom of post.

TforT ?#1 What is the main purpose of colored wine bottles?
The color of the glass of the wine bottle will prevent UV penetration(light) & therefore premature aging and oxidation.

TforT #2 True or False:For grape clusters to form it is necessary to have bees present to pollinate the flowering plant?
False, grapes are self pollinating.

TforT #3 What is panchetta?
Italian bacon cured in salt and spices, dried not smoked like traditional bacon.

TforT #4 Cabernet Sauvignon is a cross of which two grapes?
The Cabernet Sauvignon grape is a cross of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc grapes.

TforT #5 Is dark beer stronger than beers of lighter color?
There is no connection between the color of beer and strength alcohol content.

total # of player = 18
total # of tweets = 99

@jdnorthwest 11pts = WINNERS
@ATierAbove 5pts = RANDOM DRAW WINNER
@quepues 4pts
@itsoffal 4pts
@jlTallant 3pts
@NancyFeasts 2pts
@sunshinepl97 1pt

The first three people that respond using an @ reply to seattlefoodwine and/or the hashtag #SFWE with the correct answer will be awarded points: 3 points for the first person with a correct answer, 2 for the second, and 1 for the third.

For example:
@seattlefoodwine will send out a Twitter update like, "Q: Which country in Europe produces the most wine?"
You can then send a message back that says, "@seattlefoodwine France"

4. Important - all responses must either include @seattlefoodwine AND #SFWE in order for us to see that you answered.

4. The player with the highest number of points at the end of each Wednesday will win a pair of tickets to the 2011 Seattle Food and Wine Experience.

5. EVERY PERSON who answers a question, comments or RTs will be entered into a RANDOM DRAWING for a pair of tickets.

THE MORE PEOPLE WHO PLAY THE MORE TICKETS WE"LL GIVE AWAY IN THE RANDOM DRAWING!
If 25 people play we will give away one pair of tickets in the random draw, if 40 people play we will give away two pairs of tickets in the random draw. If more play we will add additional tickets to the drawing.
SPREAD THE WORD!!!

**Last week we had 33 players and 175 total tweets. Two pairs of tickets were given away, one for the trivia winner and one in a random draw of tweets.**

Trivia For Tickets 1/26/11

2011-01-26T13:28:00.001-08:00

Here are the questions and the results so far:

TforT ?#1 In the world of wine, what does AVA stand for?
AVA stands for American Viticultural Areas, federally designated grape-growing areas in the US

Seattle Food and Wine Experience is proud to be both a "global" and a "local" wine event.

TforT ?#2 What does the sparkling wine term "doux" mean?
"Doux" refers to the fact that the sparkling wine is sweet with greater than 5% residual sugar.

TforT ?#3 True or false? If a 2nd bottle of wine is ordered for the table it is not necessary to have the host check the wine
False, the host should check each bottle and if it is a different wine everyone at the table should be given fresh glasses

TforT ?#4 What is Wagyū?
The word Wagyu refers to all Japanese beef cattle ('Wa' means Japanese or japanese-style and 'gyu' means cattle. I took any answer that said cattle or beef.

TforT ?#5 What might lead you to have palate fatigue while tasting redwine?
A lot of people gave descriptors for palate fatigue but I was looking for the specific compound - tannin

TforT ?#6 True or False? Corks come from the bark of an oak.
True, cork comes from the Cork Oak Tree (species "Quercus suber")

TforT ?#7.Apart from taste, what is the difference between mild and sharp cheddar cheese?
The difference between mild and sharp cheddar cheese is the age. The longer cheese is aged naturally the sharper the flavor.

TforT ?#8 Why swirl wine in your glass before tasting?
By swirling your wine, oxygen is invited into the glass (aeration) which allows the aromas to escape.

TforT #9 True or false? Arabica beans & fine wines both derive their flavors from the soil, altitude & microclimates in which they are grown
TRUE & both are delicious & make life a bit better

Final TforT #10 Which winery & vineyard was the first to become certified organic in WA state?
Badger Mountain Winery and Vineyard

# of players so far 33, two tickets made available to random drawing
Random.org winner @mommyfassio

TRIVIA WINNER @itsoffal - 12pts
@jlTallant - 9pt
@jdnorthwest - 8pts
@LLamx-8pt
@theresafabulous - 6pts
@paulaj1967 - 4pt
@junesbug618 - 4pts
@mommyfassio - 3pts
@urbandakota - 2pts
@sonjagroset - 2pts
@brianmbrozovic-1pt
@nupie1 - 1pt

Trivia For Tickets!

2011-01-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

Play Trivia For Tickets with us on January 26, February 2, February 9, February 16.
Each person who plays has a chance to win!

Rules:

1.Follow @seattlefoodwine on Twitter. (You'll need to sign up first if you don't have a Twitter account.)

2. Each Wednesday between January 26 and February 16 @seattlefoodwine will post a series of trivia questions throughout the day. The questions will be beverage or food related with the majority being about wine.

3.The first three people that respond using an @ reply to seattlefoodwine and/or the hashtag #SFWE with the correct answer will be awarded points: 3 points for the first person with a correct answer, 2 for the second, and 1 for the third.

For example:
@seattlefoodwine will send out a Twitter update like, "Q: Which country in Europe produces the most wine?"
You can then send a message back that says, "@seattlefoodwine France"

4. Important - all responses must either include @seattlefoodwine or #SFWE in order for us to see that you answered.

4. The player with the highest number of points at the end of each Wednesday will win a pair of tickets to the 2011 Seattle Food and Wine Experience.

5. EVERY PERSON who answers a question will be entered into a RANDOM DRAWING for a pair of tickets.
The more people who play the more tickets we will make available for the random drawing!

Travel Around the World and Never Leave Home

2011-01-19T13:05:00.000-08:00

More than 1,000 wines from around the world meet a stellar array of Washington chefs and culinary companies to transform the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall into a global (yet local) gateway for the palate on Sunday, February 27, 2011. The diversity of the wines and culinary sampling education represented at the third annual Seattle Food and Wine Experience (#SFWE) mirror the city's metropolitan character, commitment to fresh product, opportunity to educate the consumer and its growing international presence.

In addition to sampling a wide range of wines from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Spain, Italy, France, Germany and Canada, the tasting event features 23 of the finest Seattle-area chefs and restaurateurs along 15 culinary and lifestyle companies.

The #SFWE is not only about cultivating international awareness for wine, but about bringing Seattle's culture, culinary products and formidable talent together. In addition to plenty of outstanding local gourmet bites from Seattle’s best chefs, and a dazzling array of worldwide wine to sip, the “Experience” offers guests an assortment of activities and learning opportunities including:

 Taste of Tulalip Lounge – This lounge features all the chefs from the resort cooking their latest Taste of Tulalip creations with individual styles paired with wines personally selected by Sommelier Tommy Thompson.

 Caffe Vita Coffee Lounge Caffe Vita began with a strong desire to bring great espresso to Seattle and that has been the catalyst to their success. Today they operate five cafes and a roasterie and enjoy growing with the community and honing the craft of coffee quality and service.

 Foster Farms Market Did you know that Foster Farms chicken is raised on 32 independent family-owned farms spread across the Pacific Northwest and delivered to the market in 48 hours or less? Visit with Culinary diva Kathy Casey, taste her chicken creations, pick up a copy of her book (the first 400 copies are given away compliments of Foster Farms.)

 What’s Your Beef Profile This exhibit by the Washington Beef Commission will help you determine your “beef personality.” You can blind taste the same cut of beef from three different sources and learn about different cuts and cooking techniques as you taste four chefs preparations.

 Muir Glen Organics These products are all certified organic and bear the USDA Organic seal. Currently educating chefs and customers across the country with their Reserve Tomato variety, Muir Glen will be serving up bruschetta, an Italian favorite, with their organic tomatoes.

 Chef in the Vineyard This lounge features Culinary Director and cookbook author John Sarich serving a delicious recipe (with local American Lamb) taken from his book Chef in the Vineyard. Wines showcased in the lounge feature Antinori - Italy, Erath Winery - Oregon, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Crest and Snoqualmie - Washington State.

 Beecher's Cheese They team up with Gooseridge Winery to sample locally made artisan cheese and Washington wine together.

 Tom Douglas Rub with Love They will be serving up samples of their rub on fresh American Lamb. Lola Chef Liam Spencer along with Oregon lamb producer Reed Anderson are the Shepard and Chef team for American Lamb representing the Pacific Northwest.

The wide range of wines being poured at the event include 45 California and International Wineries (Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Canada), 35 Washington Wineries, 10 Oregon Wineries, 10 Idaho , Wineries, 23 Chefs/Restaurateurs and 15 culinary, wine and lifestyle exhibitors

Seattle’s food outstanding scene will be represented by Andaluca Restaurant, Arnies, bin on the lake, Blueacre/Steelhead Diner, BOKA Kitchen + Bar, The Capital Grille, Coho Café, Copperleaf Restaurant at Cedarbrook Lodge, Earth & Ocean, Kathy Casey with Foster Farms, The Georgian, Ivar’s Seafood Restaurants, Purple Café and Wine Bar, Ray’s Boathouse, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Salty’s on Alki, John Sarich – Chateau Ste. Michelle, Taste of Tulalip Chefs, Tom Douglas Rub with Love.

Admission to the experience is a total value at $49 per person and includes access to all areas of the event. No one under 21 will be admitted and ID is required. A portion of proceeds from event ticket sales will benefit the Giving Grapes Foundation, a 501c3 organization that provides financial assistance to service industry professionals who have to take time off work due to injury or illness.

Tickets on Sale for 2011

2010-11-08T09:32:00.000-08:00

Tickets are now on sale for the 2011 Seattle Food and Wine Experience. The 2011 event will take place on February 27, 2011 from 1pm - 5pm at Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. As with the previous two years, the Experience will feature over a thousand wines to sample from around the globe, gourmet tastes prepared by top Northwest chefs, artisan breweries, coffee, live music and more. Ticket cost is $49 each which includes entry and all sampling. Tickets can be purchased from Brown Paper Tickets. A portion of each ticket sold will benefit The Giving Grapes Foundation, a 501c3 charity that provides financial aid to service industry professionals in times of crisis.

The Seattle Food and Wine Experience is still accepting vendors and sponsors. Current sponsors include Taste of Tulalip, Washington State Beef Commission, Chateau Ste. Michelle, QFC, Seattle Magazine and KWJZ. Visit the show website for more information. http://seattlefoodandwineexperience.com/

Dishing With Kathy Casey!

2010-02-23T06:31:00.000-08:00

Plan to arrive when the doors open at 1pm and stop by the Columbia Winery Booth to meet Diva Kathy Casey. She'll be chatting all things wine and food and giving away free autographed copies of her books for the first 300 people!

Parade of Nations

2010-02-21T06:38:00.000-08:00

Has the Olympics sparked your international curiousity? We invite you to travel the "World of Wine" and you don't even need a passport! At the 2010 Seattle Food and Wine Experience you can sample wines from 11 different countries all in one place.
Here's where you'll be visiting:

Argentina
Australia
Chile
France
Germany
Italy
New Zealand
Portugal
South Africa
Spain
USA

For a complete list of participants including those in the local Washington and Oregon pavilions, visit our "Who's Pouring" page.

Taste of Tulalip Culinary Exhibition Stage

2010-02-16T07:46:00.000-08:00

All the chefs from Tulalip Resort Casino will be featured on the Taste of Tulalip Culinary Exhibition Stage with tastes of what they are preparing. Plan to grab your favorite sample of wine, beer, cider, Starbucks or non-alcoholic beverage and have a seat while you learn a little from the experts.

Here's what they'll be creating:
*Crostini w/fig jam topped w/duck breast and madiera reduction*Wine lollipops*Geoduck fritters
You can also stop by their Blackfish and Tulalip Bay booths for more fabulous fare.

Check out our restaurants page for a complete listing of restaurants and what their chefs will be serving.

The Importance of Beecher's Flagship Foundation

2010-02-11T14:29:00.000-08:00

*In the United States, the percentage of overweight or obese children has doubled over the past 30 years to 25 per cent of the under-19 population.

*Kids today drink twice as much soda as they do milk.

*French fries are the most common type of vegetable children eat. Fries account for about one-quarter of children's vegetable intake.

*Unhealthy weight gain due to poor diet and lack of exercise is responsible for over 300,000 deaths each year.

*The annual cost to society for obesity is estimated at nearly $100 billion.

*Overweight children are much more likely to become overweight adults unless they adopt and maintain healthier patterns of eating and exercise.

Seattle Food and Wine Experience is proud to contribute proceeds from their ticket sales to Beecher's Flagship Foundation and their Pure Food Kids Workshop.

The Pure Food Kids Workshop, funded through the Flagship Foundation, is aimed at educating fourth through sixth grade students about the prevalence of food additives and their possible health risks.

To date, over 14,500 students in the greater Puget Sound and Portland metro regions have taken the Workshop. The students learned to understand: how they we being marketed to on packaging, how to read the nutrition facts statement and ingredient list, how to read a recipe and make a vegetarian chili right in the classroom and how to understand some common food additives. They learned first hand to make healthier food choices and an appreciation of pure, all-natural foods.

Tempt Your Taste Buds!

2010-01-30T10:48:00.000-08:00

Fresh Dungeness Crab Spring Rolls.

Porcini Chicken with Wild Mushrooms and Black Truffle Vinaigrette.

Alaskan King Salmon Gravad Lax with Pummelo and Rye Toast.

Roasted Lamb Flatbread With Spicy Yogurt.

Mini Doughnuts in flavors like Southern Red Velvet, Pink Lady, Wedding Cake, Aztec Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Bourbon Caramel Pecan, Chocolate Caramel Turtle, German Chocolate, Smokey Bacon Maple Bar.

These are just a few of the offerings from some of Seattle's most celebrated chefs and restaurants!

Our restaurants page is being updated daily! Check back frequently so you can plan to save room for all of your favorites

Ticket Giveaway!

2010-01-25T07:36:00.000-08:00

Eligibility to win one pair of tickets to the Seattle Food and Wine Experience...

1) Become our fan on facebook.

2)Follow us on twitter

Eligibility to win a second pair of tickets to the Seattle Food and Wine Experience...

1) Visit the Seattle Food and Wine Experience website and browse all the fabulous food and drink available for the $49 ticket price. Then come on back and tell us in a comment which exhibitor/offering you are most excited about.

2) For a second chance to win, write up this giveaway on your blog, and come back and post the link in a comment.

3) For a third chance to win, tweet about this giveaway on Twitter, then come back and leave the link in a comment.

4) For a fourth chance to win, link to this giveaway on Facebook, then come back and copy the link in a comment.

Giveaway ends Sunday January 31st at 8 p.m. PST. Winners will be chosen by Random.org. Good Luck!

Seattle Food and Wine Experience Goes Glocal (Global/Local)

2010-01-15T08:13:00.000-08:00

More than 1,000 wines from around the world join with top chefs/restaurateurs to transform the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall into a global (and local) gateway for the palate on Sunday, February 28, 2010. The diversity of the wines and culinary traditions represented at the second Seattle Food and Wine Experience mirror the city's cosmopolitan character and its growing international presence.

Here's a breakdown of the event...
45 California and International Wineries
25 Washington Wineries
12 Oregon Wineries
17 Chefs/Restaurateurs and
15 Culinary, wine, lifestyle and travel exhibitors

Sampling opportunities including:-
*The Tulalip Resort Casino Culinary Exhibition Stage featuring all the chefs from the resort cooking up their latest Taste of Tulalip creations-
*Starbucks Coffee and Music Lounge features a World of Coffee tasting plus live music by none other than Seattle Times wine columnist Paul Gregutt! -
*The Artisan Beer Garden features international and regional breweries plus cider companies
*Kathy Casey and Columbia Winery are teamed up (the first 300 guests receive her signed cookbook)
*Ruth Chris Steakhouse and Menage a Trios wines pair up to showcase American lamb three ways
*Chateau Ste. Michelle Culinary Director John Sarich is pairing WA wine with American lamb
*Maximus Minimus is coming out of hibernation for the day and selling $2 mini-pork sandwiches
*Frost Doughnuts may end up being the most popular booth based on their recent popularity!
*Beecher's Cheese will be there sampling cheese and educating attendees about Beecher’s Flagship Foundation (Known as Pure Food Kids) and the beneficiary of event proceeds

The Seattle Food and Wine Experience is not only about cultivating an international awareness, but about bringing Seattle's culture and local talents to the forefront as well. Seattle’s food/restaurant scene will be preparing gourmet tastes throughout the experience, including Campagne, Ray’s Boathouse, Earth & Ocean, Andaluca, Ponti Seafood Grill, John Sarich of Chateau Ste. Michelle, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, The Hunt Club, Pearl Bar & Dining, Cicchetti Kitchen and Bar, Artisanal Brasserie and The Artisanal Table, Salty's on Alki, Copperleaf Restaurant, Blackfish, Pike Place Brewing Company, TASTE Restaurant, Maximus-Minimus and more.

Admission to the experience is a total value at $49 per person and includes access to all areas of the event. Ticket buyers are immediately entered in a drawing for the chance to win a wine touring package for 10 provided by Butler Transportation. No one under 21 will be admitted and ID is required. A portion of proceeds from event ticket sales will benefit Beecher’s Flagship Foundation. Founded by Beecher's Handmade Cheese in 2004, the Foundation has given more than $300,000 in support of non-profit organizations providing education about the benefits of pure, all-natural food.

The Seattle Food and Wine Experience is produced by Explore Great Wine, LLC with the generous support of the following sponsors: American Lamb Board, Butler Valet and Butler Transportation, Columbia Winery, KWJZ 98.9, Peroni Beer, QFC, Seattle Dining, Seattle magazine, Space City Mixer, Starbucks Coffee Company, Tulalip Resort and Casino, Taste of Tulalip and WINO magazine. Ticket information and an updated list of participating wineries, restaurants, chefs and event exhibitors is easily accessible at http://www.seattlefoodandwineexperience.com/. For more information about Beecher’s Flagship Foundation visit http://www.beechershandmadecheese.com/.

7 weeks left to buy your tickets

2010-01-09T16:44:00.000-08:00

The Seattle Food and Wine Experience takes place on February 28th, 2010 at Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. That mean there are just seven weeks left to grab your tickets. If you haven't done so yet, read on...

Top Ten Reasons to Buy Tickets
10. All ticket buyers are immediately entered in a drawing for the chance to win a wine touring package for 10 provided by Butler Transportation.

9. The Maximus/Minimus pig truck will be out of hibernation for the day!

8. Artisan beer garden sponsored by Peroni.

7. Only $49 for Earth & Ocean, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Ponti Seafood Grill, Ray's Boathouse Restaurant, John Sarich - Chateau Ste. Michelle, Salty's on Alki, TASTE Sam, The Hunt Club, Bradley and Mikel's Pearl Dining & Bar, Pike Place Brewery, Artisanal Brasserie & The Artisanal Table, Andaluca, Blackfish, Frost Doughnuts, Cedarbrook Lodge, Campagne, Cicchetti Kitchen and Bar and Tulalip Bay!!!

6. Try a three way! It's between you, Menage a Trois wine and American Lamb prepared three different ways by Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.

5. Catch your second wind in the Starbucks coffee and music lounge and then go back for more.

4. Support an awesome cause. Proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit Beecher's Flagship Foundation - a program that teaches youth about pure food nutrition.

3. Get excited that you are going each time you read updates about it on facebook and twitter.

2. Discover another reason to hit the Tulalip Resort Casino. Their fabulous Taste of Tulalip chefs will be featured on our culinary exhibition stage.

1. WINE! Wine from Washington, California, Oregon. Wine from France, Italy and Germany. Wine from Portugal and Spain. Wine from Argentina. Wine from Chile. Wine from South Africa. Wine from Australia and New Zealand. And did we mention WINE!!!

Tickets on Sale for 2010 Seattle Food and Wine Experience

2009-12-06T15:41:00.000-08:00

Question:

Where can you sample the world's wines, craft beer, luxury food items and the cities best restaurants for $49?

Answer:

The 2010 Seattle Food and Wine Experience!

Tickets are now on sale for $49 per person (this price even includes tax!) at Brown Paper Tickets. The tickets prices includes admission, 50 tasting tickets for wine and beer (1-3 tickets per taste), unlimited tasting of non-alcoholic beverages, unlimited tasting of gourmet restaurant preparations and samples from culinary vendors. No one under 21 will be admitted. A portion of ticket proceeds goes directly to the Flagship Foundation 501c3.

Visit the website for updated list of participants. The list is growing daily!

Wine Barrels to Help the Homeless

2008-10-19T17:15:00.000-07:00

Above are some more pictures of the 10 wines barrels to be auctioned at the Seattle Food and Wine Experience. See the previous post for additional pictures and the names of the artists who have donated their time to help Heroes for the Homeless, a Seattle charity dedicated to advocating for individuals in the city without housing. These barrels will only be available at the Seattle Food and Wine Experience. Click here to purchase your tickets today!

Display one of these beautiful wine barrels in your home!

2008-09-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

The Seattle Food and Wine Experience is proud to feature 10 wine barrels painted by local artists. The above pictures are a sampling of the works in progress which will be available through a silent auction at the event. All proceeds from the auction will benefit Heroes for the Homeless.

The contributing artists are:
Nicki Sucec
Colleen Lambert
Robin Harlow
Juanita Hagberg
Jeannie Burham
Holly Ives
Jennifer Kemp
Thomas Wikan
Christy Hansen
Juriaan Korbijn

These wine barrels will only be available at the Seattle Food and Wine Experience. Tickets to the event are on sale now.

Explore Sonoma County

2008-09-24T20:28:00.000-07:00

Sonoma County is 30 miles north of San Francisco and borders the Pacific Ocean.

Sonoma County has more than one million acres of land.

Sonoma’s landscape is extremely varied with valleys, mountains, riverbeds, plains and benchlands making for 13 diverse wine regions.

Chardonnay is the county’s leading wine varietal with 16,000 acres dedicated to growing this grape.

Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley is known for it’s soft Cabernet Sauvignons and the Russian River and Green Valley are known for complex Pinot Noirs.

There are more than 250 wineries in Sonoma County.

Sonoma County boasts a temperate year round climate.

Visitors to the area enjoy outdoor activities such as touring redwood forests, surfing and golfing.

Dining in Sonoma County means indulging in local produce, cheeses, olive oils, meats and seafood.

For more information on Sonoma County Wines visit:
http://www.sonomawine.com

For more information on travel to Sonoma County visit:
http://www.sonomacounty.com

Local Lingo - "Length"

2008-09-20T07:26:00.000-07:00

There are certain terms that are commonly used when tasting wine that help others understand your subjective interpretation.

The term "length" refers to how long the flavor of a wine lingers in your mouth after tasted. Long in considered a positive descriptor and wines with length typically are considered higher quality.

Explore New Zealand

2008-09-02T22:03:00.000-07:00

New Zealand was the last landmass on earth to be discovered, making it the youngest country in the world at just over a thousand years old.

New Zealand cuisine draws inspiration from the traditional kitchens of France and Italy, as well as the exotic dishes of Asia and the Pacific Rim.

Travelers to New Zealand enjoy pristine natural surroundings, unique wildlife and adventure activities.

New Zealand is home to the kiwi, a flightless bird about the size of a large hen, which is also the nickname for a New Zealander.

Kiwis (the people not the birds) drink almost 3 gallons of wine per person per year, which makes them 28th in the world for wine consumption.

They rank 33rd in wine production.

New Zealand is known for their exotic, vibrant intensely flavored Sauvignon blanc.

Several Sauvignon blancs from New Zealand will be available for tasting at the Seattle Food and Wine Experience.

Other popular varietals from New Zealand include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Wines, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

The vineyards of New Zealand are the most southerly in the world.

For information about travel to New Zealand visit http://www.newzealand.com/travel/USA/

For more information about New Zealand wine visit http://www.nzwine.com/

Are you up for a challenge?

2008-08-31T21:08:00.000-07:00

I'm talking about the World Wine Challenge created by Barry Wiss, Vice President of Communications and Trade Relations for Trinchero Napa Valley. The World Wine Challenge serves as both an educational tool and a fun way to show off your body of wine knowledge.

To play the game you first select your level of difficulty as "Wine Drinker", "Wine Student" or "Wine Master". Then press the "Challenge" button and a globe will spin to display a multiple choice question about the region it lands on. You then have an alloted time to answer the question. Once you have answered you can then press "Learn More” button for in-depth information about the topic.

The World Wine Challenge will be featured at the Trinchero Napa Reserve booth at the Seattle Food and Wine Experience.

Want a practice session? Try a demo right now.

Explore Napa Valley

2008-08-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

The Napa Valley in California is about 55 miles northeast of San Francisco.

Napa Valley is visited by as many as five million people each year, making it the second most popular tourist destination in California, second only to Disneyland.

Though just 30 miles long and a few miles wide, Napa Valley is home to diverse microclimates and soils uniquely suited to the cultivation of a variety of fine wine varietals. This climate covers only 2% of the world’s surface.

It is California’s best known wine region even though it produces only 4% of the states wines.

Napa Valley is home to almost 400 wineries.

Only 9% of Napa County is planted to vineyards.

Among the internationally acclaimed wines produced in this small region: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Sangiovese, Zinfandel and Cabernet Franc.

In addition to touring wineries visitors enjoy scenic balloon rides, regenerating spa mud baths and world class cuisine.

Napa Valley is the Featured Wine Region for the 2008 Seattle Food and Wine Experience.

For more information about travel to Napa Valley visit http://www.napavalley.com/.
For more information about Napa Valley wines check out http://www.napavintners.com/.

Heroes Drink Wine

2008-08-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

It’s exciting to think of attending The Seattle Food and Wine Experience and sampling an unfathomable amount of national and international wines along with gourmet foods right here in Seattle. But it is even more exciting to think of the possibilities this event will provide for a fairly new public charity in the state of Washington.

Heroes for the Homeless provides those living without shelter with basic needs while they endure the long wait to secure safe, affordable housing. In doing so they also help them stay independent and out of the criminal justice system. Heroes for the Homeless is committed to making a difference in the lives of these individuals by offering food, a hot beverage, clothing, hygiene products, outdoor survival supplies, and information on how to get social service assistance.

In the year and a half since Heroes for the Homeless was founded they have distributed more than 8240 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, 5152 cups of hot chocolate, 3582 bananas, 1874 bottles of water, 1560 pairs of socks, 821 hygiene kits and 821 hard boiled eggs. And perhaps equally as important they have shown men, women and children living on the streets of Seattle that someone cares.

If you agree that every human being is valuable then please support this wonderful charity by purchasing a ticket to the Seattle Food and Wine Experience. You can also contact founder Tricia Lapitan at (425) 985-7852 or info@heroesforthehomeless.com to receive information about how to volunteer at the event. For additional ways that you can help this cause check out the “How You Can Help” Section of their website.

Are California wines better than French wines?

2008-08-08T12:17:00.000-07:00

It seems like I can't turn on the computer these days without finding an article or review about Bottle Shock, the independent film based on the true story of "The Judgement of Paris" tasting where California wine beat French wine in a blind taste test in 1976.

While the wines at the Seattle Food and Wine Experience won't be served blind, you will be getting a rare opportunity in Seattle to taste French wines and California wines together in one place. For those of you who are hard-core Washington wine lovers you will be able to compare and contrast them next to their French and California counterparts, affirming what makes wines from Washington unique. But why stop at France and the USA? Wines from all over the globe will be represented. Over a thousand different wines coming together to create a sensory trip around the world.

Whether or not you are old enough to remember the tasting depicted in the Bottle Shock movie, the Seattle Food and Wine Experience will allow you to "judge" for yourself which wine regions are the best.

Champagne

2008-07-31T13:05:00.000-07:00

The Seattle Food and Wine Experience will feature an entire section of tasting booths dedicated solely to Champagne and Sparkling Wine. Since it is an event where all wine connoisseurs should feel welcome, today's entry will give those new to the wine world a brief explanation of the difference between Sparkling Wine and Champagne.

The term "champagne" is often used to describe all sparkling wines. However Champagne is a region in France and true Champagne only comes from this region. In fact in many countries it is illegal to label a Sparkling Wine as "Champagne". If you select a bottle of Sparkling Wine it just means it was produced somewhere other than Champagne. It doesn't meant that it will be any less enjoyable.

Tickets are on sale!

2008-07-22T20:56:00.000-07:00

Tickets to the Seattle Food and Wine Experience are on sale now! The inaugural event will take place 10/25 and 10/26/08 and will be the first of this magnitude to feature wines from around the globe combined with gourmet food in Seattle. Only a limited number of tickets are available and the event is expected to sell out. To purchase your tickets visit ticketmaster.