Guest post by Juli Crompe.
It has been a while since I've reviewed an event, but I am starting back up with a winner!
Taste of Tulalip was earlier this month, always the second weekend in November. I can honestly say it is THE best event I've been to.
Tulalip doesn't win the best hospitality award; having a line stretching outside to the parking lot, with guests waiting in the cold (and no coat check!). Not to mention they had stanchions set up which would have held a lot more people in the check-in line, in the warm tent, which they weren't using. A bit disappointing. But that is where the disappointment ends.
Walking in you were immediately greeted by tables of wine in the hallway. They were well labeled with large signs describing the various countries and states showcased. This year, Washington, Oregon, California, France and Spain were the wine regions involved. Even a wide variety of breweries from the US, Belgium and Germany were featured. This event really had it all.
Although it was a last minute decision to attend, I still managed to review the list of wineries in advance, key to setting a game plan. With this event, research was needed. Even so, I found myself lost in a sea of absolutely incredible wines.
Pro Tip 1: Chat with people when tasting a wine you like (and they like!). This often leads to recommendations from them about other wines at the event. This helped me find some hidden gems I probably would have passed by.
Pro Tip 2: Unlike most wine events, this one is filled with higher end wines not often associated with any other tasting events. Such as: Quilceda Creek (WA), Leonetti Cellar (WA), Domaine Serene (OR) and Nicolas Feuillate (France), just to name a few. Seek these out early as they often pour out before the end ends! This is the wine connoisseur's wine event.
Here is a sampling of some of the amazing wines I enjoyed:
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| Getting the last pour of Betz, around 5pm! |
Tulalip is also known for their amazing food and this event was no exception. While the lines were long, there were many food stations throughout the event serving everything from lamb, seafood and buffalo to dessert and more. The food was superb.
Although this is one of the more expensive wine events in the area...and a bit of a drive, it is definitely worth it.
Pro Tip 3: Tulalip offers packages for this event which include a room for a night. Something I highly recommend since there are so many things to do after the event including dancing, restaurants, bars (if you still can drink!), and more.
Make a weekend of it next year! If you are considering Taste of Tulalip, book now, as rooms sell out well in advance! As do many of their events.
Trust me, you won't regret it.
- Juli
Juli Crompe is a Non-profit Event Planner, Wine/Event Blogger and Wannabe World Traveler. She has a passion for travel, sustainability, great happy hours, her puppy and laughter. You can follow Juli on twitter @JKCevents