Back in July with cases of Covid-19 falling and restrictions on gathering easing, we were very hopeful that we could find a way to make the 2021 Harvest Wine and Cider Tour a reality.  However, in recent weeks it has become apparent that it will not be possible to safely host the tour.  Covid-19 cases have been increasing on the Olympic Peninsula and burdening our medical system.  The Health Officer for Clallam and Jefferson Counties has mandated proof of vaccination for all indoor service.  These tours are staffed primarily by volunteers and asking them to be responsible for checking vaccination status as well as risking their health is just not practical nor wise.  Providing a completely outdoor setting for the number of people that typically attend our tours in mid-November is also impractical.

A meme on Facebook touts that it takes a village to raise a child, but it will take a winery to home-school one!  Our wineries here on the Olympic Peninsula want to do their part to help you in your educational endeavors.  Here are the current schedules and operations for our members:

Camaraderie Cellars at 334 Benson Road in Port Angeles is open for wine tasting, glass and bottle sales Friday through Sunday from 11 to 5 pm. through October. Curbside pick-up is always available during open hours and other times by appointment.  Seating throughout our idyllic grounds is available on a first come – first served basis.  The last tasting is half an hour before closing.

Eaglemount Wine and Cider at 1893 S Jacob Miller Road in Port Townsend is open for tasting and glass pours on Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 5 pm. All seating is available on a first come – first served basis.

FairWinds Winery at 1984 Hastings Ave West in Port Townsend is closed at this time.

Harbinger Winery at 2358 W Highway 101 in Port Angeles is open for tasting Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 6 pm, Friday 11 to 5 pm and for wine pick-up only on Wednesday.   All seating is available on a first come – first served basis. The last tasting is half an hour before closing. Harbinger is also offering delivery service on the peninsula with minimum orders and bottle pick up service by appointment outside our business hours.

Marrowstone Vineyards at 423 Meade Road in Nordland is open Friday and Saturday from 12 to 8 pm and Sunday from 12 to 5 pm for tasting and bottle sales on their sunny deck and lawn.  All seating is available on a first come – first served basis. You can also call (360) 385-9608 to book an appointment for tasting.

Olympic Cellars Winery at 255410 Highway 101 in Port Angeles is open for curbside pickup Thursday through Saturday from 11 to 5 pm.

Port Townsend Vineyards Winery at 2640 W Sims Way in Port Townsend is open for retail and curbside pickup from Monday through Saturday from 12-6 p.m. and Sunday from 12-5 p.m.  Outdoor seating and retail are available on Friday and Saturday from 12-6 p.m. and Sunday from 12-5 p.m. Outdoor seating is available on a first come – first served basis.  Port Townsend Vineyards also offers complimentary, in-state shipping and home delivery service on 3 or more bottles. Delivery service includes Port Townsend and surrounding communities.

Windrose Cellars at 143 W Washington Street in Sequim is open for tasting Friday and Saturday from 1 to 6 pm.  The last tasting is half an hour before closing. Seating is available on a first come – first served basis.  As we have no outside seating, only people from the same household may sit together due to the State regulations.

Vintage by Port Townsend Vineyards at 725 Water Street in Port Townsend is open for retail and outdoor seating on Friday and Saturday from 12-6 pm and Sunday 12-5 pm. Seating is available on a first come – first served basis

• Camaraderie Cellars has re-opened for limited tastings Friday – Sunday from 11 to 5
• Eaglemount Winery-Cidery is open for bottle sales, tastings and glass pours on Saturday and SundayFairWinds Winery will be closed until further notice.
• FairWinds Winery is closed until further notice.
• Harbinger Winery will be open for bottle sales on Fridays from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Marrowstone Vineyards will be open for bottle purchase and shipping orders on Friday – Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. They are also offering local delivery for call-in purchases at 360-385-9608.
• Olympic Cellars Winery is open Thursday – Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for bottle purchases and shipping orders.
• Port Townsend Vineyards is offering home delivery service on orders of three or more bottles of wine.  Delivery is a no-contact, complimentary service for those who live in Port Townsend, Port Hadlock, Port Ludlow, Chimacum, Quilcene, Sequim and Port Angeles.
• Wind Rose Cellars is open Friday’s and Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for bottle purchases.  They are offering the following wines for 25% off (30% for case purchase) 2014 Bravo Rosso, 2014 Primitivio, 2015 Dolcetto, 2014 Omaggio Red Mountain Barbera, 2017 Bravo Bianco Chardonnay, 2017 Sauvignon Blanc Keeper, 2014 Barbera.

Please note that none of these wineries or cideries are offering on site tastings or consumption of purchases.  Online sales, phone in orders for shipping or pick up (or delivery in some cases) are welcome at any of the venues. 

During this time of Stay Home – Stay Healthy your Olympic Peninsula Wineries are doing what they can to help ease the isolation and provide you with quality local wine.  Call ahead to order or to have some wine delivered and then hit up your friends for a virtual happy hour.  There isn’t much better than a glass of wine on a sunny spring afternoon to make the world seem normal again.  Check out the individual wineries Facebook pages and websites for more information.

• Camaraderie Cellars:  Call 360-417-3564 to arrange a curbside pick-up.  Some deliveries for wine club members are available.
• Eaglemount Winery-Cidery will be open for bottle sales and local delivery Friday through Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  They are making deliveries to Eastern Jefferson County (free) and to Seattle ($10 delivery fee).
• FairWinds Winery will be closed until further notice.
• Harbinger Winery will be open for bottle sales on Fridays from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  They are also offering delivery within Clallam County with a minimum 6 bottle order.  While supplies last, Harbinger Winery is offering La Petite Fleur 2017 for $100 per case.
• Marrowstone Vineyards will be open for bottle purchase and shipping orders on Friday – Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. They are also offering local delivery for call-in purchases at 360-385-9608.
• Olympic Cellars Winery is open Thursday – Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for bottle purchases and shipping orders.  They are also offering delivery in the Port Angeles/Sequim area with a minimum 6 bottle purchase.
• Port Townsend Vineyards is offering home delivery service on orders of three or more bottles of wine.  Delivery is a no-contact, complimentary service for those who live in Port Townsend, Port Hadlock, Port Ludlow, Chimacum, Quilcene, Sequim and Port Angeles.
• Wind Rose Cellars is open Friday’s and Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for bottle purchases.  They are offering the following wines for 25% off (30% for case purchase) 2014 Bravo Rosso, 2014 Primitivio, 2015 Dolcetto, 2014 Omaggio Red Mountain Barbera, 2017 Bravo Bianco Chardonnay, 2017 Sauvignon Blanc Keeper, 2014 Barbera.

Please note that none of these wineries or cideries are offering on site tastings or consumption of purchases.  Online sales, phone in orders for shipping or pick up (or delivery in some cases) are welcome at any of the venues. 

Spring in the wineries and cideries!

With the snow a distant memory, the daffodils blooming and the trees and vines budding, it is time to catch up with the Olympic Peninsula wine and cider makers to learn more about what is happening behind the scenes.  After the rush of harvest, stemming and crushing and pressing the grapes and apples, the wine and cider takes a more leisurely path forward through fermentation, barreling, aging and bottling.

After crush, red wine begins its fermentation process with the skins still part of the mix to give it the red color.   In red wine, fermentation causes the fruit to rise to the top  of the tank.  The wine maker has to be punch the fruit down or pump the wine over the skins during the fermentation to ensure a complete process.  White wines and ciders are pressed during crush and the sediment settles to the bottom and removed before the liquid is tanked for fermentation.  The wines and ciders are transferred to clean barrels or stainless steel vats to age after fermentation.  White wines and ciders might be bottled within a few months, whereas red wines may age in barrels or vats for 18 to 24 months.

In the wineries|cideries

Six months from the 2018 harvest and crush, fermentation of the Olympic Peninsula wines and ciders has been completed and the crafters are watching and tasting how the 2018 vintage has developed to date.  At Finnriver Farms, Head cider maker Andrew Byers gives the following rundown:

We have recently moved our bittersweet blend (estate fruit only) from fermentation tanks into whiskey barrels for final maturation to create Finnriver Fire Barrel Cider.  Multiple blends of high acid (sharps) fermentations are being combined after filtration, to begin a final stride towards Finnriver Golden Russet Cider. The 2016 Pommeau is also out of barrels and spending a few weeks with itself in a single vessel before bottling.

In the wineries, the winemakers were busy over the past month racking – moving the wine from barrels to other barrels or vats in order remove sediment.  This process happens up to three times before bottling and allows the winemaker to assess how the wine is developing, and if changes need to be made.  The wine might be moved from a new barrel to an aged barrel to help soften the tannins.  In some cases, the wine is moved from large casks to smaller barrels to allow the wine to have more contact with the oak.  The process is hard work and messy, but the results are wines that are well balanced and clear.

In the vineyards|orchards

While the Northern Olympic Peninsula isn’t home to too many vineyards, Ben Thomas, the wine maker for Port Townsend Vineyards had this to say about their 11 acres of grapes and their first vintage of wine:

“We’ve had the distinct pleasure this past vintage of playing with our very own grapes that we grew right here in town. We had a nice little harvest of Siegerrebe, Madeleine Angevine, Garanoir and Golubok in 2018. The first two have made light and pretty whites, the latter two an interesting rosé and a port, respectively. None of them taste anything like any wines I’ve tried before. It’s been fun seeing how the grapes respond to neutral barrel fermenting, lees stirring and the native yeast gathered from our own vineyard. They will all be on the lower range of alcohol level, which should give them a nice role at the table, either as an aperitif or with lighter foods that many wines wouldn’t play well with. And overall they should complement our lineup well.”

In the vineyards and orchards, buds and blossoms abound.  Much of the heavy pruning work is done after the leaves are gone from the branches and buds, but the more intricate work starts as the weather begins warming.  In the vineyards, workers will thin the suckers sprouting out of the vines to provide a stronger foundation for growth as well as shaping the vines.  As the buds begin to break open, decisions will be made as to which shoots will be allowed to grow and which will be added to the compost pile.  In the orchard workers are also pruning trees to allow for the best fruit growth and harvest.  Grafting is also taking place in both vineyard and orchard to prepare replacement plants for those that age out of production or are damaged during the year.

The 2019 Wine, Cider and Cheese Tour is great time to catch up with your favorite winery or cidery and those that produce the beverages you love.  This tour is laid back with plenty of time to chat with your fellow “tourists.”  It is the perfect time to meet up with old friends as well as meet new wine lovers and discover all you have in common.  Of course ~ it is the perfect time to taste all sorts of interesting wine and cheese pairings!

Sunshine & Wine Release

June 16th-17th (Father’s Day Weekend)

In celebration of the warmer weeks ahead of us we are proud to unveil a plethora of mouthwatering and refreshing wines. Some of these tasty treats are in limited supply and won’t have the opportunity to reach the public eye for more than a quick blink. Stop by at one of our nine participating wineries over the weekend to experience a special sampling of these wines.

Don’t miss this extremely limited release of Summer Wines from Harbinger Winery’s Small Batch Research Project!

2017 Sieg-MA (a field blend of Siegerrebe and Madeleine Angevine)
This deliciously crisp and ethereal white wine was grown on the sun soaked hills of Palo Alto Road in Sequim, WA and exhibits tropical aromas of guava and crisp, zesty white grapefruit characteristics on the palate. Only 45 cases produced. $22/bottle

2016 Roussanne
All stainless fermented and aged, this wine exhibits a nice balance of acidity, elegance and aromatic complexity. The bouquet opens with the fragrance of fresh cut flowers, starfruit and sweet spice. While it carries weight on the palate, the acidity keenly checks any wayward coyness and the wine finishes extremely crisp. 40 cases produced. $19.99/bottle

2017 Pinot Gris
Just released in time for warm summer days, the 2017 Pinot Gris is sure to wake up any sleepy palate with its bright fruit and crisp acidity. There’s a truism about food pairings with this grape that goes like this: “Pinot Gris and things from the sea.” Enter the bounty from the Salish Sea
(that’s our backyards folks): dungeness crab, halibut, salmon, shellfish….enjoy this limited wine with good friends and enjoy it often as it won’t last. 90 Cases produced. $19.99/bottle

2017 La Vie en Rose’
This roguish Rhone blend consists of mostly Grenache’ and Roussanne with a splash of Viognier, and is hands down a staff favorite. It has seen a bit of barrel aging which adds a caramelized flavor to all that strawberry and cherry notes zipping around. This year’s blend has a clean and light personality that makes it a versatile playmate for many different personalities and events (grilled salmon, pizza, any cheese you can name, or after- work decompression
elixir…you get the picture). $19.99/bottle

2015 Grenache
This wine packs a summery punch with the truckloads of wild strawberry, plum and layers of toasted sweet spice yet remains mysteriously light and refreshing on the palate. It is the perfect summer red. This is a first ever Grenache to be bottled at Harbinger and we have a feeling it will also win the hearts of both staff and public. 65 Cases Produced. $40/bottle

Raspberry Bliss

While we usually make a limited supply of this wine each year, we experienced a nationwide shortage of Raspberries in 2017. So we only have about 60 cases to last until the 2018 berries are harvested, transformed into wine, aged, bottled and releases. In other words once this is gone we will be in a Raspberry drought until the summer of 2019…gasp! If this is a favorite of yours, stocking up might be in order. $22/bottle

Wind Rose Cellars is excited to release five new wines:

2017 Pinot Grigio deliciously balanced rich and with more body than your typical Pinot Grigio. Great with shellfish and white fish.

2017 Rosato, dry rosé. Layers of flavor and acidity make this on of our best rosés. Great with just about any food pairing.We have also released a new label for us: Barrel select. These three wines were a very limited bottling. We only produced one barrel of each of the below wines: 25 cases of each.

2016 Carménère very rare varietal for Washington.The palate has hints of spice, licorice, cocoa and savory herbs. The wine has a finish of mocha, raspberry and black tea. Pairs nicely with herbed meats, grilled tuna and goat cheeses.

2016 Cab Franc On the palate, Bing Cherry, raspberry and vanilla are supported by smooth tannins. Plum, black tea and hints of walnuts give a lingering finish. Pairs nicely with soft cheeses, pork and poultry.

2016 Petit Verdot On the palate, the wine has bold fruit flavors of black berry, dark plum and currant. The wine has a finish of dark chocolate and ganache. Pairs nicely with lamb dishes, BBQ, and aged cheeses.

FairWinds Winery offers a “no tasting fee” weekend–no tasting fee for anyone!  In addition, we are releasing our first blush of the summer– a little sweet, a little tangy.  We are also closing our our Chardonnay line @ $12 a bottle or $120 a case.  Did i mention no tasting fee?

This month, Camaraderie is releasing two great summer wines:  2017 Pinot Gris and 2017 Rugosa Rose.  Also new this month is our 2014 Malbec and 2015 Dolcetto—wines that will pair well with summer picnics and BBQs.

Join us this weekend for a special summer release of Finnriver‘s beloved Lavender Black Currant Botanical Cider featuring organic Washington apples, organic black currant juice and locally grown organic lavender from Wilderbee Farm, Jardin du Soleil Lavender and Purple Haze Lavender. We will also be serving locals bratwurst, summer salads, wood-fired pizza, vegan ice-cream and more! Now open EVERYDAY from 12-9pm! Get your updates here: www.finnriver.com/music.

Stop by Olympic Cellars for these beauties:

Rose’ The Riveter, 2017                                                    $14.99 / Wine Club Price $11.99

Dark pink color. Fresh tasting.  Flavorful, fruity and slightly sweet, this version of Rosie tastes of fresh strawberries. A delicious Syrah Rose’. Rosie’s ‘can do’ attitude shines through in this wine.

Cranberry Jubilee                                                             $19.99 / Wine Club Price $15.99

Bottled in limited quantities, this blend of Cranberry and Chardonnay and Riesling is medium-bodied with a fruit-filled Cranberry finish.  Tart, crisp and just a little bit sweet.  Enjoy on the  patio with a fruit and cheese plate.

Barn Nouveau Red                                                           $16.99 / Wine Club Price $13.59

A unique lighter style red blend of Touriga (50%), Souzao (25%), and Merlot (25%). This wine will pair beautifully with your summertime meals.  It tastes of berries and smoke with a lovely touch of vanilla on the finish.

Join us out at Port Townsend Vineyards this weekend as we celebrate dads, grads, and our One Year Anniversary! On Friday, June 15th, from 5p-8p, we’re having our One Year Anniversary Party with live music, lawn games, wine raffle, and food from Hama Hama Oysters and Barbarian Burgers. Free and all-ages!