The fifth annual Seattle Wine Awards Grand Tasting celebrates the best wines in the Northwest at Seattle’s Rainier Club. Known as one of the most prestigious wine awards, the Seattle Wine Awards began in 2006 by Christopher Chan, Director of Wine & Spirits at the Rainier Club and a certified sommelier.

An experienced tasting panel includes prominent wine directors, buyers, distributors, educators and Seattle’s top sommeliers. The panelists know the varietal, but they do not know the price or the producer. (This is called a single-blind tasting.) A 20-point system is used to score the wines, based on color, aroma, flavor & palate, balance, finish and overall impression.

This event has grown in popularity each year. Chan says he expects 800 wines to be submitted this year, compared to 274 submissions in 2006.

Now here comes the best part – at the 2010 Grand Awards Tasting on June 13, wine enthusiasts will be able to sample the winning wines. Your ticket also includes a delicious lunch buffet and a souvenir Riedel tasting glass.

Not surprisingly, considering the historic venue and the prestigious awards, the tickets are a bit pricey. But there is a special pre-sale price until May 31.

To learn more – and to buy tickets, visit the Seattle Wine Awards website.

Cheers!