21 to 35? Wine Commission has a party for you

This year's hot new vintage doesn't come in a bottle. It's a wine party Friday with such buzz it sold out a month in advance and has latecomers trolling online classifieds searching for extra tickets.

It's called "20something — The New Vintage," and it's the Washington Wine Commission's effort to get the 35-and-younger set better acquainted with wine, especially wines from the nearly 500 wineries that dot the state. In its second year, it's ripening into a must-go event for young professionals, many of whom relish a chance to mingle, sip, flirt and — oh, yes — learn more about wine.

"There's not a lot of events like this for people our age," said Jason Roberts, a 27-year-old Microsoft program manager. "With the huge single population and relatively large populations of people in their 20s and 30s with disposable income, there really isn't a whole lot of stuff tailored to our age group. When you can go to work in a T-shirt and jeans every day, you look for a chance to do something special."

Roberts wore a suit when he attended last year's sold-out event with his buddies and bought extra tickets for friends this time around. Last week he was selling the extras online and had entertained more than a dozen offers only a few hours after his online posting.

One person looking for tickets on Craigslist last week wrote, "I am in desperate search and need of two tickets to the 20something wine event at the W Hotel. Will pay more than face value. Thanks!"

The wine commission decided last year it wanted to reach out to its future fan base with a less intimidating (and less spendy) wine event than its annual Taste Washington extravaganza ($85 per person, more if you go VIP).

Organizers Madeline Dow and Moya Shatz, both 20-somethings themselves, kept tickets at $40 and brought in DJ Darek Mazzone from KEXP-FM (90.3) to set the mood. The 500-plus attendees arrived looking swanky. Sipping and flirting ensued. Word spread.

"We wanted to create an event that we would like to go to," Dow said. "We found winemakers who actually come out from behind the table and pour."

Among the 50 wineries at this year's event will be Red Diamond, Substance, DeLille Cellars, 428, Sleight of Hand Cellars, Brian Carter Cellars, Cadence and L'Ecole No. 41. Restaurants include El Gaucho, Union Square Grill, BOKA Kitchen and Bar, Waterfront and Qube.

The commission hopes 20-somethings have such a great time they'll opt to attend April's Taste Washington or at the very least, recognize more local wines when they're scanning the shelves before their next dinner party.

"These are going to be the next consumers for all of our wineries. These are the people who are going to be buying the cases and attending Taste Washington. We want to grab them before they start grabbing those Yellow Tail bottles off the shelf," Dow said.

And, help them make new connections of all kinds.

"If you are heading to the event as a single person, at least you have something in your hand to start talking about, or swirl and compare notes," she said.

Karen Gaudette: 206-515-5618 or kgaudette@seattletimes.com