So this is a bit of a departure for a beer blog, but I received a media invite to attend the first annual Holiday Wine Fest taking place in Seattle on the weekend of November 12 and 13. The event is offering ample tasting of wine and spirits (with one or two ciders and beers thrown in there) as well as shopping opportunities (you’ll be able to purchase any of what you taste and like).

The 2016 Holiday Wine Fest is poised to be the Pacific Northwest’s largest and most popular tasting exposition. This all-day Saturday and Sunday event features a world-class line-up of local, regional, national and international wines, ciders, spirits, gourmet cuisine and artisan vendors. The Holiday Wine Fest is the perfect occasion to tempt you and yours with the flavors of fall and the finest offerings of the Season.

It takes place at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, and the weekend is split into three sessions:

• Saturday, Nov. 12: Noon – 4pm ($40 admission)
• Saturday, Nov. 12: 5pm – 9pm ($45 admission)
• Sunday, Nov. 13: Noon – 4pm ($40 admission)

Tickets can be purchased online here.

I don’t know exactly what to expect but this does sound like an interesting event. And the list of participating wineries and more is impressive:

Wineries, Ciders & Brew

• Aberrant Cellars
• AniChe Cellars
• Archery Summit – OR
• ATLAS Cider Co.
• Browne Family Winery
• Chandler Reach Vineyards
• Coral Wines
• Dobbes Family Estate – OR
• Double Canyon
• Gruet – New Mexico
• Hedges Family Estate
• Hyland Estates
• Kasia Winery
• Lodmell Celars
• Market Vineyards
• Maryhill Winery
• Masquerade Wine Company
• Mercer Estates
• Milbrandt Vineyards
• Naches Heights/NHV Winery
• Pear UP/Neigel Vintners Cider
• Pine Ridge – CA
• Newhouse Family Vineyards
• pFriem Family Brewers
• Renwood Winery – CA
• Robert Ramsay
• Snow Cider – BC
• Sonoris Wines
• The Bunnell Family Cellar
• Three of Cups
• Tranche Cellars
• Tieton Cider Works
• Treveri Cellars
• Upland Estates Winery
• Warr-King Wines
• Westmount
• Wilridge Winery

International

• Argento – Argentina
• Benoit Cocteaux Champagne – France
• Berlucchi Franciacorta – Italy
• Bernard Magrez Vignobles – France
• Bodegas Yuste – Classical Wines of Spain
• Bonaval – Spain
• Ca Marcanda Promis – Italy
• Castello di Monsanto – Italy
• Carma – Chile
• Castello Banfi – Italy
• Castello Monsanto – Italy
• Catena – Argentina
• Cecchi – Italy
• Chapuy Champagne- France
• Chateau Berneuilh – France
• Chateau Eugenie – France
• Chateau Les Millaux – France
• Classical Wines of Spain
• Domaine Christophe Bleger – France
• El Enemigo – Argentina
• Harewood Estate – Australia
• Il Poggione – Italy
• Gaja Sito – Italy
• Bodega Garzón – Argentina
• Juniper Estate- Australia
• Livio Felluga – Italy
• Lou Miranda Estate – Australia
• Mitchells Wines – Australia
• Monsieur Touton Selections – France
• Mionetto – Italy
• Nino Franco – Italy
• Orlando Abrigo – Italy
• Passatempo – Portugal
• Singlefile – Australia
• Renacer – Argentina
• Tratado – Portugal
• Tomero – Argentina
• VistaAlba – Argentina
• Zimmerman Wines – Australia
• Cossart Gordon Madeira – Portugal
• Dow’s Port /Douro DOC – Portugal
• Prats & Symington Douro DOC – Portugal
• Pombal do Vesuvio Douro DOC – Portugal
• Smith Woodhouse Port – Portugal

Distilleries

• Ararat – Armenia
• Balinoff – France
• Bomond Distillery – France
• Chambers Bay Distillery
• Copperworks Distillery
• Corsair
• Ghost Dog
• Heritage Distilling Co.
• kkAda Caramel Liqueur
• Mastrogiannis Distillery
• Pasquinet Cognac – France
• SeaSpirits Distillery
• Sidetrack Distillery
• Sons of Vancouver Distillery
• Swede Hill Distilling
• Temple Distilling Company
• Tequila Honor Del Castillo – Mexico
• Tsarsky – Lithuania
• Valley Shine Distillery

It’s not beer, but if you’re in the Puget Sound area on Veteran’s Day weekend this is something you might want to check out.