One of the largest single-region food and wine festivals in the country is in Seattle this weekend
One of the largest single-region food and wine festivals in the country is in Seattle this weekend
The Washington State Wine Commission's Grand Tasting is this weekend in Seattle.
Over the past 26 years it has grown to become the nation's largest single-region wine and food festival. More than 200 Washington wineries and 75 restaurants will offer the public samples of their latest and greatest at Lumen Field Event Center.
Overall, wine consumption has fallen to its lowest level in decades amid a global downturn in the business. Industry experts have said several factors could be contributing to the slump in wine sales, including a generational shift away from alcoholic beverage consumption and toward consumption of seltzer, nonalcoholic cocktails and marijuana instead.
But in Washington there appears to be optimism, and the industry is sticking together.
"The future is still bright,” said Sam Minkoff, president of SE Productions, an event management company that is putting on the Grand Tasting. “There is so much passion and hard work and dedication in the wine industry and the food industry in Washington. And I think that passion will override everything else. And I just genuinely believe in that."
The grand tasting takes place Saturday and Sunday. Saturday is sold out, but tickets are still available for Sunday.
