The Taste Washington Grand Tasting is coming up this Saturday and Sunday at the CenturyLink Field Event Center in Seattle. With over 230 Washington wineries represented, here are some tips and tricks to make the most of the event.

Make a plan of attack

This is a large event and it’s easy to spend a lot of time going in circles. To get a head start, look at the Taste Washington brochure in advance of the event, which lists all of the wines being poured. You could decide to focus on a certain variety, such as cabernet sauvignon, or style, such as rosé. See our list of recommended wines to try at the bottom of this post for ideas.

Visit the wineries you are most interested in first

A number of wineries pour out early at this event. If there is a winery you have your heart set on visiting, make sure to visit them at the beginning of the event so you don’t miss out.

Remember this is wine tasting, not wine drinking

Even if you drink just a small amount of wine from each table you visit, it can add up quickly. Make liberal use of the dump and spit buckets at the winery tables rather than drinking all of the wine poured. Personally, I bring a paper coffee cup as a spit cup and then pour that into the dump buckets as the tables can get crowded.

Don’t be a camper!

This event can get quite busy. While it’s fine to briefly talk with the winemaker or the person representing the winery, once you’ve had your wine poured, step back so that other people can get to the front rather than camping out at the table sipping your wine.

Eat early, eat often

There are over 65 local restaurants represented at Taste Washington. Make sure to mix in plenty of small bites while you’re tasting.

Visit the Taste the Vineyards tables

The Taste the Vineyard tables tend to have fewer visitors, making for a great opportunity to talk to vineyard representatives and try a number of wines. Vineyards represented this year include Cold Creek, Kiona, and Sagemoor.

Use public transportation/Uber to and from the event

Even if you are dumping and spitting out wine, the alcohol can still add up over the course of the event. Make sure to have a designated driver or use public transportation/Uber to get to and from the event.

Have fun!

Recommended wines:

There are so many great wines being poured at this event it’s impossible to list them all. Here are a few standouts to look out for, in alphabetical order.

• Andrew Will 2012 Champoux Vineyard Red Blend, Horse Heaven Hills $83
• Array Cellars 2012 Otis Harlan Vineyard, Dijon Clone Chardonnay, Yakima Valley $32
• Avennia 2013 Sestina Red Blend, Columbia Valley $65
• Betz Family 2011 Clos de Betz Red Blend, Columbia Valley $57
• Buty 2012 Phinny Hill Vineyard, Columbia Rediviva Red Blend, Horse Heaven Hills $50
• Cadence 2012 Ciel du Cheval Red Blend, Red Mountain $45
• Canvasback 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain $40
• Charles Smith 2012 Casa Smith Barbera, Jack's Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley $30
• B. Leighton 2013 Red Rhône Blend, Olsen Brothers Vineyard, Yakima Valley $45 (poured at the Charles Smith table)
• Chateau Ste Michelle 2012 Artist Series Red Blend, Columbia Valley $65
• Co Dinn 2013 Roskamp Vineyard Chardonnay, Snipes Mountain $45
• Col Solare 2002 Double Magnum Red Blend, Columbia Valley $NA
• Cote Bonneville 2009 DuBrul Vineyard, Carriage House Red Yakima Valley $50
• Doubleback 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley $89
• EFESTE 2013 Evergreen Vineyard, Lola Chardonnay, Ancient Lakes $35
• Eight Bells 2013 Red Willow Vineyard, 8 Clones Syrah, Yakima Valley $35
• Fidelitas 2013 Malbec, Red Mountain $40
• Fielding Hills 2012 Riverbend Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope $44
• Figgins 2012 Estate Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley $85
• Forgeron 2014 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley $28
• Gorman 2012 The Evil Twin Red Blend, Red Mountain $65
• Januik 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $30
• K Vintners 2013 Motor City Kitty Syrah, Boushey Vineyard, Yakima Valley $35
• Sixto 2013 Chardonnay, Frenchman Hills Vineyard, Columbia Valley $55 (poured at K Vintners table)
• Kerloo Cellars 2013 Les Collines Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley $40
• Kevin White Winery 2013 DuBrul Vineyard, Heritage Red Blend, Yakima Valley $35
• Kontos Cellars 2012 Alatus Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley $38
• L’Ecole No 41 2014 Seven Hills Vineyard, Luminesce White Wine, Walla Walla Valley $22
• Mark Ryan 2013 Dead Horse Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain $55
• Matthews 2012 Claret Red Blend, Columbia Valley $40
• Pearl & Stone 2013 Wandering Red Blend, Yakima Valley $29
• Proper Wines 2013 Estate Syrah, Walla Walla Valley $42
• Rotie Cellars 2013 Northern Red Rhône Blend, Walla Walla Valley $48
• Seven Hills 2015 Dry Rosé Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley $17
• Stevens Winery 2012 Stevens 424 Red Blend, Yakima Valley $36
• Tenet Wines 2014 The Pundit Syrah, Columbia Valley $25
• Treveri Cellars NV Blanc de Noir Pinot Noir, Yakima Valley $20
• Two Vintners 2014 Boushey Vineyard Grenache Blanc, Yakima Valley $25
• Upchurch Vineyard 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain $68
• William Church 2013 Gamache Vineyard Malbec, Columbia Valley $40
• Wind Rose 2012 Barbera, Columbia Valley $28
• Woodinville Wine Cellars 2009 Indomitable Red Blend, Columbia Valley $50
• Woodward Canyon 2014 Chardonnay, Washington State $44