Taste of Tulalip is my favorite local tasting event, an unrivaled opportunity to taste world-class wines in a gorgeous setting, and it’s just a few weeks away. I’m obviously very excited, but any serious tasting requires a certain amount of preparation. Beyond the obvious (but important) tips like “Don’t drink and drive” and “Don’t wear white,” I’d like to pass along a few other bits of wisdom, many of which can be used for tastings in general.

Wait on the red.

Yeah, I know, you’re really excited to get to Quilceda Creek or Caymus or some of the other iconic West Coast wineries that will be present, and I get it. Those are great wines, but can be hard (or expensive) to taste normally. Yet they’re also some of the most intensely flavorful wines you’ll find at Taste; if that’s your first stop, stepping back to Oregon pinot noirs, let alone whites, will be tricky.

Eat something! First of all, lots of great food will be available, and missing out on it would be a shame. Second, having food in your stomach will keep you sober. Lastly, some wines are simply more enjoyable when paired with foods. Keep a sharp blue around for those big red wines, or some hard cheese for a lean, acidic white.

Taste of Tulalip 2014 wine bottle. Photo courtesy Taste of Tulalip

Go global.

While most attendees are mobbing the Washington, Oregon, and California wineries, you can beat the crowds and explore world-class wines you rarely see from Germany and New Zealand. That reminds me…

Embrace your sweet tooth. German rieslings are generally ignored by most wine drinkers because they have the unsavory reputation of being sweet. While there’s some truth to that, well-made German rieslings are some of the finest wines on the planet. Yes, when poorly balanced, that sweetness can be overwhelming and unappealing, as was often the case with the commercially available rieslings in the U.S. for many years. At their best, though, German rieslings contrast their residual sugar with electric acidity and a stark, powerful minerality. The combination, when properly balanced, creates exceptionally complex and interesting wine. In particular, the wines from Joh. Jos. Prum, Ernst Loosen, and August Kesseler are worth your full attention.

Find a pace. It’s a long event. You don’t need to rush to every single stand or try every wine in one go. Taking a break or two to eat, breathe, and rest your palate will make your experience all the more enjoyable.

So there you go. A few tips to help you better enjoy this yearly celebration of wine. Are you going? Drop me a line at thebarcode@seattleweekly.com and I’ll find you by the riesling! Taste of Tulalip Tulalip Resort Casino, 10200 Quil Ceda Blvd., Tulalip, Wash., 1-888-272-1111, tasteoftulalip.com. $95 and up per person. Fri., Nov. 14–Sat., Nov. 15.

thebarcode@seattleweekly.com