If you want to go wine tasting, don't worry about heading all the way up to Woodinville. Wine tasting is available right here in Tacoma at both wine bars and local micro-wineries. Even better, wine tasting in Tacoma is often extremely affordable or all out free. Many wine tasting spots offer tasting experiences on certain evenings or select times throughout the week, but you'll be out of luck if you want to taste on a Sunday. Here are a few:

21 Cellars

21 Cellars is tucked just off N. 21st Street and easy to drive by, but it is one of the best spots to try locally made wine in all of Tacoma. It's teeny, it's tiny, but it's a boutique winery with a few wines that have gained some attention. Seattle Magazine named 21 Cellars' 2006 Pont21 Cabernet Sauvignon one of the best new wines in Washington in 2011. Stop in on Saturdays and enjoy a very affordable wine tasting experience for just $5. Tasting hours are Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (by appointment only) and Saturdays from 2-6 p.m. (walk-in okay), 2621 N. 21st St.

Wildside Wine

For an intimate and fun wine tasting experience, you can't beat Wildside Wine. Run by a couple that had such a love of wine that they opened this shop, Wildside doesn't care if you know anything about wine when you walk in. When you walk out, you'll have gained some knowledge, tasted a lot of great wine and enjoyed some tasty bites from Bette Anne Curry catering next door. You'll find a bit of everything, from locally made wines to classy international wines, but for those on a budget, there are a bunch of $10 wines, too. Hours are Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 1 to 6 p.m. Located at 608 S. Oxford St.

Pour at Four

A cozy little wine bar, Pour at Four will usually let you taste a wine before you purchase a glass or a bottle. But if you want to try a series of well-chosen wines, Pour at Four also usually has wine tastings on Wednesdays from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Wine tastings feature a theme - either a type of wine or a wine region. Other special wine tastings pop up here and there, too. Follow the wine bar's Facebook page to keep up to date on what wines are on parade and when. The best part is that when there is a wine tasting on, it's complimentary. Find them at 3814 N. 26th St.

Vino Aquino

Vino Aquino is a local winery with much to offer wine tasters. Vino Aquino carries a total of 12 wines - six whites and six reds that range from dry to dessert wines. All are produced and/or bottled right onsite at the Vino Aquino Winery. During store hours, the shop offers limited wine tasting (as in, you can't taste every wine in the store). Store hours are Tuesdays to Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m. Wine tasting is free, but if the store is busy, there is no guarantee you'll get the wine tasting of your dreams. If you want a sure thing, make a reservation. You can also make reservations for after-hours parties (minimum 15 people) between 6 and 8 p.m. with advance notice. Located at 4417 Sixth Ave., #1.

Other Places

Cork! recently underwent a management change, but has offered wine tastings in the past. Metropolitan Market is also an unexpected place to find wine tastings. This summer, the Proctor Met Market seems more committed to beer tastings, but keep an eye on its events calendar for wine tastings in the future - it usually pairs amazing cheese and tapas with the wine.