It seems that everything is being done just a little bit differently in 2021—and Taste Washington is no different. The usual four-day celebration of Washington’s impeccable wine and food, traditionally held in multiple packed venues across Seattle each March, cannot happen as usual this year. But the past year has taught us nothing if not to appreciate a good pivot. The innovative team behind this delicious event has found a way to keep its spirit alive, allowing everyone to taste the state safely throughout the month of March.

This year, Taste Washington has introduced a fresh format for people to discover new Washington-inspired pairings wherever they are. There are no festival tickets for sale; wine and food lovers can directly support the Washington wineries and restaurants they love through creative promotions that focus on five weekly themes:

• Cabernet Sauvignon & Casserole (March 1-7)
• Chardonnay & Catch of the Day (March 8-14)
• Syrah & Barbecue (March 15-21)
• Red Blends & Family Recipes (March 22-28)
• Riesling & Noodles & Dumplings (March 29-April 4)

There are four distinct ways to enjoy the bounty and incredible cuisines of Washington State with Taste Washington throughout the month:

Upgrade your takeout with Taste Washington To Go presented by Alaska Airlines. Showcasing Washington’s top produced varieties, enjoy the perfect pairing of delicious wine and food from your favorite restaurant or discover a new one. Menus change weekly dependent on the pairing themes. Pre-orders from six featured restaurants each week must be placed by Friday for pickup on the following Wednesday. Didn’t plan ahead? Not to worry—there are plenty of other participating restaurants with menus available any day of the week.

 Be your own chef with Taste Washington At Home presented by Whole Foods Market. Each week in March, a new recipe highlights Washington producers along with recommendations for the perfect wine pairing. Home chefs across the country are invited to shop at their local Whole Foods Market or neighborhood grocery store for ingredients and cook safely at home to celebrate the weekly themes.

Make it a Wine Getaway and sip with a new view. Dozens of hotels across the state are offering wine packages with a mix of amenities upon check-in such as complimentary parking and other perks.

Find a deal among the Monthlong Promotions. Discover everything from discounts on wine, free tastings, special menus, hand-picked wine packs, and more. If anything, this month is a great opportunity to restock your cellar. 

And because wine with prizes is more fun than wine without them, Taste Washington is hosting a sweepstakes throughout the month with multiple ways to gain entries. Prizes include gift cards for Whole Foods Market, roundtrip airfare from Alaska Airlines, and a VIP package for two to attend Taste Washington 2022 (yes, the festival is planning a splash with a string of in-person events next year).

It has already been such a tasty month—you won’t want to snooze on the last few weeks. Discover all the delicious programming details, weekly announcements, and winery activities on tastewashington.org and follow along on Instagram at @taste.washington.