Think you know Washington wine?

There’s plenty to know, of course. Washington produces more wine than any state save California, with an ever-increasing number of growers and wineries setting up shop here, each year turning out new and different wines that show off the excellence of the terroir and the talent of the winemakers.

There’s no better way to stay on top of Washington wine than spending an afternoon at Taste Washington, the annual festival celebrating the state’s flourishing wine and food scene. Now in its 19th year, the Seattle event will offer attendees a taste of 225 wineries, 70 restaurants and 60 culinary exhibitors from across the region at its Grand Tasting, April 2 and 3 at the CenturyLink Field Event Center.

“It’s a great opportunity to sample every winery – well-known ones, some not-so-well-known ones – and you walk around a huge room and taste food and wine, filling your plate with little meals from the top local restaurants,” says Susan Prouse, manager at the Olympia, Wash. Total Wine & More, looking forward to her third festival. “You’ll never have that opportunity anywhere else.”

Taste Washington is billed as the nation’s largest single-region wine and food event.

Winemakers from across the state will be pour samples for attendees, providing the chance to meet the folks who create some of Washington’s most buzzed-about wines. Premier event sponsor Total Wine & More will also be there, with Prouse and other Total Wine experts offering visitors a taste of some very special wines carried in our stores.

“We set up a couple of barrels at the Total Wine & More booth, we’re pouring, we have an opportunity to talk to people who are getting to know our stores in the Seattle area. And we give away free stuff!” Prouse added. Attendees may snag the latest edition of Total Wine & More’s Guide to Wine, wine tote bags or special offers that can be used on their next trip to a local store.

The Taste Washington festival officially begins Thursday, March 31 with the gala Red & White Party and continues through the weekend with more events, educational seminars and the two-day Grand Tasting. For more information and tickets, visit http://tastewashington.org/.