Bless the Trees That Bear Fruit

Wine and cider depend upon healthy fruit. This is true whether they’re made in Washington State, France, or Australia. Without an abundance of healthy fruit, winemakers and cider makers have nothing. We know it, too, and we are eternally grateful for the bounty of Mother Nature.

Washington State Cider from Olympic Peninsula.

Trees. Blossoms. Fruit. We are blessed.

Finnriver Farm & Cidery is leaving nothing to chance. All are invited to join them on Saturday, March 24, 2012 from 2:30 to 4:30 for their annual Community Apple Orchard Blessing.

This is a festive occasion. The Apple Orchard Blessing includes a bagpipe processional through the apple orchard, story-telling, hot cider, songs, and tree blessing. All ages are welcome, from babes in arms to older folks leaning on elbows and canes.

March is Washington State Wine Month. In honor of this, folks who visit the Tasting Room at Finnriver Farm and Cider will receive 15% off any purchase of the following cider & fruit wine cocktail pairings.

Pear Squared. Celebrate the elegance of the pear.

Pear in Love. Features Finnriver’s newly released Raspberry Brandy Wine.

Black Currant Kir Finnriver. A local twist on the classic kir.

Autumn Equals Apple Cider

Nothing says autumn quite like apple cider. For centuries, people have celebrated the fall harvest of apples by pressing them into cider. Hot apple cider, sparkling apple cider, and hard apple cider are the quintessential beverages of autumn.

Don’t let this autumn pass you by without stepping onto a farm and celebrating the apple.

Fall at Finnriver Farm on the Olympic Peninsula.

Finnriver Farm and Cidery in Chimacum is hosting an Apple Festival this Sunday, October 16, 2011, from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be apples, hot apple cider, apple brandy, and a variety of artisan hard ciders. There will also be family games, face painting, and music all day. The incomparable Cape Cleare salmon cart will be on hand with delectable dishes like their salmon sandwich, and Finnriver will serve a few tasty sweet treats.

Why stop at just one Washington State cidery? Head over to Eaglemount Wine & Cider while in the Chimacum Valley and sample their ciders. The wine studio at Eaglemount Winery is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

Finnriver Farm & Cidery and Eaglemount Wine & Cidery are members of Olympic Peninsula Wineries, a group of Washington State Wineries and Cideries making wine on the Olympic Peninsula.

Celebrate the apple this Sunday, October 16, 2011.

Seattle Cider Summit

Finnriver Farm & Cidery and Eaglemount Cider will pour their ciders at the Cider Summit N.W. in Seattle on Saturday, September 10, 2011. Artisanal Ciders from around the world will be represented at the South Lake Union Discovery Center from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Come try them all!

Finnriver Cidery and Eaglemount Cider will be at the Seattle Cider Summit.

No two ciders are alike. The upcoming Cider Summit is a unique opportunity to taste ciders from Washington State, Oregon, California, Michigan, British Columbia, France, and the United Kingdom. You’re sure to find distinct differences, and your sure to want to bring a few bottles home with you. The good news is, you can.

Owners and cidermakers will guide guests through the samplings, which will be poured in 3-ounce and 6-ounce portions. This event is for folks 21 years of age and older. Dogs are welcome.

Live music and a great variety of food vendors will round out the Cider Summit N.W. in Seattle:

Alan Hager and James Miller From Portland: 12 – 2 p.m.
Drummerboy, featuring Kimball Conant on guitar: 2 – 4 p.m.
Drummerboy, featuring Eric “Two Scoops” Moore on piano: 4- 6 p.m.

To purchase tickets and learn more information about this event, please visit Cider Summit Seattle.

Please see Eaglemount Cider and Finnriver Farm & Cidery for more information about these Olympic Peninsula, Washington State Cideries.

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…)

Whale Watching and Wine Tasting

Washington’s Olympic Peninsula is one of the few places in the state where one can go whale watching and wine tasting in the same day.

Killer whales, humpback, minke, and gray whales all swim in the waters of Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Strait of Georgia. Puget Sound Express, based in Port Townsend, takes passengers out to see them all. For the past few months, gray whales have been most visible. For the next few months, orcas should be most prevalent.

A glass of Washington State Wine is just what is needed after an exhilarating day searching the waters for whales. Sorensen Cellars and FairWinds Winery are both located in Port Townsend, and both offer wine tasting. Wine and cider tasting is also available at Finnriver Farm and Cidery, located outside of town in lush Chimacum valley, and Eaglemount Wine and Cider, in the hills on the southeast banks of Discovery Bay.

The Pacific Northwest is home to some of the most majestic creatures on earth – whales. It is also home to some mighty fine wine – Washington State Wine. The Olympic Peninsula is the place to experience both.

Additional information about whale watching tours is available at Puget Sound Express.

Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival

Each spring, historic Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula celebrates community and Washington’s beautiful state flower during the Rhododendron Festival. In 2011, the 76th Annual Rhododendron Festival takes place May 16-21. Rhody Fest means spring has come.

Relax in Sweet Laurette's courtyard after the Rhody Festival Pet Parade in Uptown Port Townsend.

Residents of Port Townsend and surrounding communities participate in numerous parades just for the fun of it during Rhody Fest. Everyone gets caught up in the celebratory mood while watching the great Trike Race downtown and the fancy Pet Parade Uptown. The Bed Race is one of the most entertaining and hilarious events in Washington State, while the Grand Parade is reminiscent of a bygone day. No Rhododendron Festival would be complete without the carnival that takes over Memorial Field at the end of the week.

It’s worth traveling to Port Townsend for the Rhododendron Festival. While there, we suggest you visit one or all of the Washington State wineries in and around Port Townsend. Sorenson Cellars and FairWinds Winery are located in Port Townsend proper, while Finnriver Farm & Cidery and Eaglemount Wine & Cellar are tucked into the beautiful land outside of town.

Bring a bottle of your favorite Washington State Wine back home with you, and when you drink it, remember the good fun you had during the Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival.

A schedule of festival events is available at Rhodyfest.

Victorian Heritage Days in Port Townsend, WA

Anyone who has ever visited Port Townsend, WA, knows it to be a beautiful, historic, seaport town. Jaw-dropping views of Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, the Olympics and Cascades greet you at every turn. Closer to home, the coast of Whidbey Island evokes the White Cliffs of Dover.

Mount Baker, as seen from Fort Worden.

One hardly needs an excuse to visit Port Townsend, but there are plenty for those who feel they do. The upcoming Victorian Heritage Days, March 18 – 20, 2011, is sure to appeal to both history and architecture buffs. Special events include tours of Historic Uptown and Downtown Port Townsend (walking and bus tours available), Historic Clothing Fashion Show, and presentations on weatherizing old buildings and maintaining traditional wooden boats.

While in Port Townsend for Victorian Heritage Days, visit the local Washington State Wineries and sample their wines. FairWinds Winery and Sorenson Cellars are located in Port Townsend proper, while Eaglemount Wine and Cider, and Finnriver Farm and Cidery are located in nearby Chimacum. If you can’t make it out to the wineries, enjoy a glass of local wine at one of the many excellent restaurants in town; or stop by The Wine Seller on Water Street or Aldrich’s Market Uptown and pick up a bottle of local Washington Wine or Cider to bring home.