Get Out and Admire the View

Early September is a fantastic time to visit Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park. As of this writing, there is snow only at the highest elevations. Hiking trails are open and views are out of this world.

Good company, glorious views, and a bottle of Washington Wine from the Olympic Peninsula. Perfect.

Much of the summer was a bit of a disappointment, at least with respect to weather. Low clouds and a low snow line did not inspire hiking. These last weeks of warmth and sun have helped remedy that, and the coming weeks should bring more of the same.

Plan a trip to the Olympic Mountains. Hike if you like, or simply sit and enjoy the stunning views from the top of Hurricane Ridge. You’ll feel the mist clear from your mind. You’ll feel happy.

We suggest you never visit the Olympic Peninsula without stopping by one or more of our member Washington Wineries. Speak with the wine makers, taste some wine, and bring home a bottle of Washington Wine to enjoy as you remember your glorious time on the Olympic Peninsula.

Please visit Olympic National Park for up-to-date information about hikes and conditions.

The New Dungeness Lighthouse

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Walk to the New Dungeness Lighthouse, on the tip of Dungeness Spit in Sequim.

Perched on the end of the Dungeness Spit in Sequim, the New Dungeness Lighthouse is far from new. Yet today it is as remote and beautiful as it was more than 150 years ago. It’s worth a look the next time you’re visiting the Olympic Peninsula. Since the weather is supposed to be great during the next couple of weeks (at last!), plan a trip soon.

Dungeness Spit is the world’s longest natural sand spit, extending five miles into the Strait of Juan de Fuca (and growing every year). There is no quick way to get to the lighthouse at the end of the Spit – visitors must walk five miles to the end of the Spit and five miles back. Those who do are rewarded with stunning scenery, wonderful wildlife, fresh air, and peace.

A walk out to the New Dungeness Lighthouse is a fantastic way to celebrate a special occasion. It’s an incredible experience, even on the most blustery days. Once at the lighthouse, visitors are rewarded with amazing views from the top of the Lighthouse tower. On clear days, the Olympics, the North Cascades, and Mount Baker will knock your socks right off your feet.

Several picnic tables are located out by the lighthouse, and driftwood chairs are abundant on the beach. Picnics should include a bottle of Washington State Wine from the Olympic Peninsula – to celebrate your surroundings.

Celebrate the return trip with a stop at one of the nearby Olympic Peninsula, Washington State Wineries. Olympic Cellars, Harbinger Winery, Camaraderie Cellars, and Black Diamond Winery are all located in Port Angeles. All offer wine tasting.

It is possible to travel by boat to the New Dungeness Lighthouse. Advance notice must be given to the National Wildlife Refuge at 360.457.8451.

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer lighthouse Keeper, please visit New Dungeness Lighthouse.

Fort Worden State Park

Fort Worden State Park is one of Washington’s treasures. Situated on the northeast tip of the Olympic Peninsula, it offers stunning views, soft sandy beaches, and wooded hiking and biking trails. It’s also just minutes from historic downtown Port Townsend, one of the most picturesque towns in the state.

The view from Fort Worden.

Few beaches in the Puget Sound area can match the beach at Fort Worden. Grassy dunes line the sand, dancing in the ever-present breeze. Mount Baker, the Cascade Range, and Mount Rainier stand tall in the distance, while the cliffs of Whidbey Island shimmer in the foreground. The deep sand begs for bare feet, the drift wood inspires fort building, and the water is cooling on a hot day. (more…)

August Events Featuring Olympic Peninsula Wines

Several of our member Olympic Peninsula Washington State Wineries are involved in special events around the Sound this month. They’re different, their fun, and they’re certainly worth a look. Now that summer has finally reached the Pacific Northwest, get out and enjoy it!

Toast a successful jump with Olympic Cellars Washington State Wine.

  • Pair Washington Wine with skydiving? Why not. Join “The Working Girl First Jump Club” for an evening of Tandem Skydiving into the field behind Olympic Cellars Winery on August 10 and August 24. Jumps start at 5 p.m. and will run hourly in groups of 5 – 6 until all have jumped. Participants will certainly be served Olympic Cellars Washington State Wine, but not until after the jump. Friends and family are invited to watch at the winery and enjoy a picnic dinner while waiting. For more information, please see Olympic Cellars.
  • The Finnriver Farm Cider Dinner is less likely to make your adrenaline run, but it too promises to be a superlative event. Join the folks from Finnriver Farm and Cider  and Chef Mark Bodinet at the Copperleaf Terrace, where you’ll be treated to inspired cuisine paired with Finnriver Washington State Ciders and fruit liqueurs. Copperleaf Terrace is located at Cedarbrook Lodge, a tranquil setting south of Seattle. The five-course dinner is a farm-to-table meal made with local ingredients, including Finnriver Farm’s own strawberries. For the menu, please visit Cedarbrook Lodge. To make a reservation, please call 206.214.4282. The cost is $55 per person (plus tax and gratuity), and seating is limited to the first 24 guests.
  • Camaraderie Cellars Washington State Wine will be available at the Gig Harbor Wine and Food Festival, August 6, 2011. The festival will highlight Chef Kevin Gillespie, 2 time semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation “Rising Star Chef of the Year” award, known for bringing the farm to the fork. There will be celebrity chef appearances, a cook-off finale, and wine seminars, among other exciting events. Additional information is available at the Gig Harbor Wine and Food Festival.

Olympic Music Festival 2011

Each summer, the Olympic Peninsula is graced with outstanding chamber music in a glorious setting. 2011 is the 28th season of the Olympic Music Festival. Experience it if you can.

A glass of Washington State Wine from the Olympic Peninsula is the perfect accompaniment to the Olympic Music Festival.

The Olympic Music Festival is held on the grounds of festival director Alan Iglitzin’s home, which is located north of Quilcene. Musicians play in a turn-of-the-century barn that opens to a vast lawn. Guests are welcome to arrive early and enjoy the festival’s 55-acres of gardens, woods, and horse pastures. Picnickers are welcome.

Once the show starts, listeners relax in lawn chairs or stretch out on blankets. This is the perfect occasion to enjoy a glass of  Washington State Wine from one of member Olympic Peninsula wineries. Try a glass of the award winning Working Girl White from Olympic Cellars, or the festive, award-winning Raspberry Bliss from Harbinger Winery.

The Olympic Music Festival takes place Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. from June 25 – September 4, 2011. Seating in the music barn requires reservations, but the lawn has open seating. Additional information and tickets are available at Olympic Music Festival.

Fine Dining and Fine Wine on the Olympic Peninsula

Travelers to the Olympic Peninsula have long gone there to find stunning scenery, rain forests, and unparalleled outdoor activities. Back in the day few travelers expected to find great food or wine. That has changed.

A young apple presser examines a batch of apples that will soon be turned into cider at Finnriver Farm & Cidery

These days, people exploring the Olympic Peninsula come across restaurants that have been written up in the New York Times (Fins, in Port Townsend). They find hand-crafted pizza made in wood-fired stoves at Sequim’s Alderwood Bistro. They find elegant garden dining at the Cafe Garden in Port Angeles. They also find award winning Washington State Wine and cider.

When next you head to the Olympic Peninsula, be it to hike, admire views from Hurricane Ridge, or spend time in a historic seacoast town, be sure to bring your appetite. Allow time to stop by one of the Washington State wineries in Port Angeles and Port Townsend, where you may taste hand crafted Washington wine. Visit a picturesque cidery in the Chimacum Valley, and taste cider made from Washington apples. You’ll be happy you did.

2011 Festival of American Fiddle Tunes

Fiddling About

Don't miss the 2011 Festival of Fiddle Tunes, happening now.

The 2011 Festival of American Fiddle Tunes is underway at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend, on the Olympic Peninsula. Fiddle fans have until Saturday, July 9, 2011, to enjoy some of the finest fiddlers around.

The much-anticipated Country Cajun Stomp takes place Friday, July 8, at 6 p.m. Bring a picnic and a low-back chair (if you want to rest) to the lawn at Littlefield Green and get ready for a mighty fun dance event.

The Master Hands Project: NEA National Heritage Award Winners Concert takes place at the McCurdy Pavilion on Saturday, July 9, at 1:30 p.m. Don’t miss this historic celebration of Wayne Henderson, Dudley Laufman, Marc Savoy, Paul Dahline, and Liz Carroll, with Jacqueline Laufman, Paul Dahline and Family, and John Doyle.

No trip to Port Townsend would be complete without a visit to the local Olympic Peninsula Wineries. Taste locally made Washington wine at Sorensen Cellars and FairWinds Winery. Bringing a bottle or two back home with you is a great way to remember a fine weekend at the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend.

Please visit Fiddle Tunes for additional festival information.

Summer Cider Day in Port Townsend

What promises to be the first Summer Cider Day of many takes place this Saturday July 9, 2011, from 11 a.m to 7 p.m.

Ciders from all over the Northwest – including 10 local cidermakers – will be at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend. They’ll pour their cider, discuss differences between the various cider styles, and generally celebrate the fermented apple. It promises to be a fun event.

Two of our member Olympic Peninsula Washington Cideries will participate: Finnriver Farm & Cidery and Eaglemount Wine & Cider. They’ll be joined by cider makers from the Methow Valley, the Skagit Valley, the Willamette Valley, and beyond. Try one, try all.

Try Washington State Cider at the Summer Cider Day, July 9, 2011.

In addition to cider, there will be a selection of local cheeses and some fine live music. More information may be found at  Summer Cider Day.

2011 Sequim Lavender Farm Faire

 

The 2011 Sequim Lavender Farm Faire is scheduled for the weekend of July 15-17. Plan now to be on the Olympic Peninsula then. Tour lavender farms, eat lavender-infused foods, and spend time at the faire’s new location at Carrie Blake Park at the east end of town.

Carrie Blake Park

Carrie Blake Park

Lavender in the Park will be the location for all things lavender and more – with the exception of the actual lavender farms. New Vendors plus vendors from past lavender weekends will have their booths in the park, surrounded by lovely open spaces where children may run and play. This is a wonderful location for the Wine and Beer Garden which will be located next to the Amphitheater along with all your favorite food vendors from past lavender festivals. The Wine and Beer Garden will be the perfect place to hang out, catch the concerts while enjoying a glass of Washington State Wine. Each of our member wineries / cideries will be pouring two wines or ciders in the garden.

Lavender in the Park will be open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.. Evening concerts, food booths, and the Wine and Beer Garden will be open until 9 p.m. On Sunday, Lavender in the Park will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Stand in beautiful and fragrant fields of lavender. Try lavender-infused ice cream and enter the lavender pie-making contest. Refresh yourself with a glass of Washington State Wine made on the Olympic Peninsula.

Hope to see you July 15-17, 2011 for the Sequim Lavender Farm Faire. Additional information is available at the Sequim Lavender Farm Faire website.

2011 Sequim Lavender Farm Faire Poster

Join Olympic Peninsula Wineries at the 2011 Sequim Lavender Farm Faire.

Award Winning Washington Wines

We are thrilled and honored to announce that several Olympic Peninsula wineries / cideries were winners in the prestigious 2011 Seattle Wine Awards.

Fifteen esteemed wine professionals met at the Rainier Club in mid April to taste and evaluate wines made from Washington grapes. Competition was stiff, and the winners listed below are truly delighted to have been recognized.

Visit the Olympic Peninsula and taste our award winning Washington wine.

Camaraderie Cellars:
Gold medal for 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Gold medal for 2008 Syrah.
Gold medal for 2008 Cabernet Franc.
Silver medal for 2008 Elégance.
Silver medal for 2008 Grâce.

Eaglemount Wine and Cider:
Silver medal for 2008 Osprey.
Bronze medal for 2007 Raptor Reserve.
Bronze medal for 2007 Syrah.

Finnriver Cidery:
Double Gold medal for their Artisan Sparkling Cider.

Harbinger Winery:
Double Gold medal for 2010 La Petite Fleur.
Gold medal for 2010 Raspberry Bliss.
Silver medal for 2009 Viognier.

Olympic Cellars:
Double Gold medal for 2007 Cabernet Franc
Gold medal for 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Bacchus.
Gold medal for NV Working Girl White.

We invite you to visit our Washington State Wineries on the Olympic Peninsula; try our  award-winning wines and ciders for yourself.

Learn more about the 2011 Seattle Wine Awards at Seattle Wine Awards.

Father’s Day on the Olympic Peninsula

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 19, 2011. Consider doing something different and special this year with your dad. Head to the Olympic Peninsula for a day of fresh air and fine Washington State Wine.

Enjoy a glass of wine in the gardens at Camaraderie Cellars.

If your father is a golfer, take him out for a round of golf at one of the following Olympic Peninsula Golf Courses:

Discovery Bay Golf Course is about 5 miles outside Port Townsend. 18 holes and gorgeous views of Discovery Bay and the Olympic and Cascade Mountains.

Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course, in Sequim, is the driest course in Western Washington. The Olympic Mountains stand tall in the distance.

Sunland Golf Club is fun to play. Tall sequoia, fir, spruce and cedar trees line the course, which also has great views of the Olympic Mountains.

Peninsula Golf Club sits on a hill east of Port Angeles. It overlooks the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Olympic Mountains stand at its back.

Wine and cider tasting is the perfect activity after a morning round of golf, and the Washington Wineries of the Olympic Peninsula provide it. Four wineries offer wine tasting in Port Angeles, two wineries offer wine tasting in Port Townsend, and there are two winery / cideries between Port Townsend and Port Angeles. See our Olympic Peninsula Wineries map for more specifics.

Spend a day or two on the Olympic Peninsula with your dad, this weekend, June 18 or 19, 2011. If this weekend, is already booked, consider another weekend. Opportunities for outdoor recreation are abundant – golfing, kayaking, hiking, biking, etc.; and no matter what activity you do, save time for wine tasting on the Olympic Peninsula.