March in Seattle is usually a long, gray stretch of waiting for spring, but Taste Washington breaks that cycle. It is the one time where the state’s wine industry essentially moves into the city, and this year the schedule is as packed as ever. While the festival has grown into a massive month-long celebration, the signature events take place over three days, which have no problem competing with the NCAA Final Four. 

The kickoff for the main series starts on Thursday, March 19, with Pacific Standard. Held at The Admiral’s House, this event is a love letter to the Northwest coast. It focuses on the seafood and cool-climate whites with the skyline as a backdrop. It’s a perfect way to start the weekend.

The vibe shifts on Friday, March 20, with The New Vintage at The Sanctuary at Lotte Hotel. This fête is a high-energy party where the focus is on some of the city’s best chefs with experimental wine pairings. If you want a night out where you can celebrate the local food scene right along with the wine in your glass, this is the one to book.

On Saturday, March 21, the focus moves to the King Street Ballroom for the Washington Wine Seminars. Starting at 10:30 AM, these 90-minute sessions are more of a quiet affair, a chance to get a little more insight into the wines as you dig into technical side-by-side pours. Winemakers and experts like Food & Wine executive wine editor, Ray Isle and winery owner Kyle MacLachlan will be on hand to drop some context on things like soil and climate before heading over to the main event.

Everything comes to a head with the Grand Tasting at the Lumen Field Event Center on Saturday, March 21, and Sunday, March 22. This is the massive, high-energy gauntlet that everyone knows. You have hundreds of wineries and dozens of restaurants all in one room. You can bounce from a heavy Walla Walla Cabernet to a crisp Riesling from the Yakima Valley in about thirty seconds. It’s loud and crowded, but it’s the only time of year you can see (and taste) the state’s wine map conveniently located in the 206.

Tickets for the marquee events are already moving, and they usually sell out well before the doors open. If you want to see the full lineup of who is pouring and plating, you can find all the details on the Taste Washington website.