Taste Washington @ Seattle, WA

Taste Washington, Seattle’s two-day celebration of Washington wines, April 14 & 15, 2007, offers Education Day 2007, April 14th, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center. In honor of Taste Washington’s 10th anniversary, the Washington Wine Commission brings together an impressive slate of nationally recognized speakers, expert panels, exclusive tastings and a special keynote address for a day of explorations into the esteemed past, dynamic present and brilliant future of Washington wines.

“We are excited about the outstanding caliber of participants in Taste Washington’s Education Day,” acknowledges Chris Stone, Washington Wine Commission Consumer Marketing Director. “We have internationally renowned speakers coming to Seattle to help us examine Washington State’s remarkable wine industry and join in celebration of our 10th anniversary.”

A centerpiece of Taste Washington’s Education Day is a lunch and keynote address by Adam Strum, Chairman, Wine Enthusiast Companies and Publisher and Editor, Wine Enthusiast Magazine. The famed Piero Antinori, the most famous name in Italian wine, will attend as Special Guest. The lunch is preceded by a morning of exceptional tasting seminars, including:
· Winery Wingspan, with Ted Baseler, President and CEO, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates

· Single Vineyard Sensations, with former Wine Advocate reviewer Pierre Rovani, Shayn Bjornholm, MS, and Chris Camarda of Andrew Will Winery
· $20 and Under Washington Wonders, with New York Times columnist Howard Goldberg, Joshua Wesson and David Scholefield
· Swirl a World of Syrah, presented by a panel of experts from around the globe
· Inside the Winemaker’s Studio interview with Woodward Canyon founder Rick Small
· What a Woman Wants, with an all-female panel comprised of Lettie Teague, Editor, Food & Wine Magazine; D.J. Kearney; WWC Executive Director Robin Pollard; and Alpana Singh, one of the nation’s youngest Master Sommeliers
· Foreign Invasion, the inspirational story of Long Shadows Vintners
· Blind Tasting Boot Camp (back by popular demand) with Bob Betz, MW, Larry Stone, MS, and moderator Lettie Teague
· Tiny Titans, the Wee Wonders of Washington, with wine writer Paul Gregutt and superstar wine personalities David Scholefield and Joshua Wesson
· A Decade of DeLille, 10-year vertical tasting and commentary with Chris Upchurch, Rob Bigelow, MS, and Tim Gaiser, MS

Education Day concludes in exceptional manner with an afternoon Tasting with the Masters: Founding Fathers of Washington Wine. Pierre Rovani will guide a panel of Master Sommeliers through a tasting of some of the wineries that helped put Washington on the world map, including: Andrew Will Winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Winery, Hedges Family Estate, The Hogue Cellars, L’Ecole No. 41, Leonetti Cellar, and Woodward Canyon Winery. Winemakers will be on hand to comment on the discussion of their wines.

Taste Washington benefits FareStart and the Washington Wine Education Foundation. It also supports wine and culinary scholarships to enhance the growth of the food and wine industries in the state. For information on Taste Washington and Education Day tickets, please contact Moya Shatz at 206 667.9463 or mshatz@washingtonwine.org

About the Washington Wine Commission:
The Washington Wine Commission is responsible for the promotion and development of the Washington wine industry, representing more than 450 wineries, 350 wine grape growers and 30,000 vineyard acres. For more information about Washington wines, touring, and tasting opportunities, visit www.washingtonwine.org or e-mail info@washingtonwine.org.