12th Annual Friends of the Fields Harvest Dinner

Friends of the Fields Harvest Dinner 2014If you’ve a passion for locally sourced, delicious food, then you wont want to miss the 12th Annual Friends of the Fields Harvest Dinner, scheduled for Sunday, September 25th, 2014 on the North Olympic Peninsula.

An all-volunteer event, the Friends of the Fields Harvest Dinner is a collaborative celebration of the Olympic Peninsula’s local harvest. This multi-course, all-volunteer, gastronomic gala is local food, donated by the community and prepared by celebrated, local chefs, all for a good cause: promoting farmland conservation by demonstrating the quality of the local area’s bounty.

And it’s not just food – local drink will also be on hand in the form of beer and wine, along delicious desserts, and live music. (more…)

Port Angeles Underground Tours

Port Angeles Underground Tours

Work begins on filling in the Port Angeles waterfront, circa 1914

Many people know that Seattle has an old underground section of the city that you can tour but did you know that you can take Port Angeles Underground Tours as well?

Located on the North Olympic Peninsula, Port Angeles, like so many towns at sea level, was initially built up … where it really shouldn’t have been.

Founded in 1862, with real construction beginning in the 1880’s, Port Angeles sprang up primarily near the water so as to facilitate ease of transport for its main export: logs. Unfortunately, this meant suffering the effects of high tides and what that brought in, namely the growing city’s own sewage!

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The Olympic Peninsula Wine Trail West – Part 1

Olympic Peninsula Wine Trail WestOkay, I admit it, there is, as of yet, no officially sanctioned Olympic Peninsula Wine Trail – but that doesn’t mean you can’t make up your own!

The upper Olympic Peninsula has 9 great wineries / cideries all grouped within an hour or less of each other – from Port Townsend to Port Angeles – and most of which are open daily or by appointment all year ’round – so taking a tour is a no-brainer!

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Day Trip From Seattle Part III

Our last two blogs posts have given your driving routes for a tour of Olympic Peninsula wineries from Seattle. Here, we finish that itinerary with our last two winery stops.

Stop #7: Camaraderie Cellars

After Black Diamond Winery and their beautiful views, head back down Black Diamond Rd. towards Port Angeles. Continue onto Pine St. and then turn right onto W 16th St. Get back on US 101 W for about a mile and then turn left on Benson Rd. About a third mile up the road, Camaraderie Cellars will be on the left, at 334 Benson Rd.

Stop #8 Harbinger Winery

harbinger-winery-olympic-peninsulaIt’s a quick mile and half to our final winery: Harbinger. Simply head back to Hwy. 101 from Benson Rd. Take a left onto 101 West and about a mile down you will see Harbinger Winery on the left at 2358 Highway 101 West.

What a day! This is a good 8-9 hours of wine tasting and touring. You will see a wide array of Olympic Peninsula communities and environments. By the time you pull away from Harbinger Winery, you are sure to be ready for some dinner. Stop in Port Angles for  a delicious dinner at one of our recommended restaurants. After all that, you can make your way back to the Bainbridge Ferry on Hwy 101. Or, if you’re done driving for the day, stay on the Olympic Peninsula for the night in a hotel, bed and breakfast or inn.

Upcoming Olympic Peninsula Event: Northwest Wine and Cheese Tour

Looking for a good weekend to come up and visit us this spring? May 4th & 5th is our annual Northwest Wine and Cheese Tour. We invite you to sip and savor new wine releases and ciders paired with a variety of cheeses crafted by local, artisan creameries. The Olympic Peninsula Wineries and eight local creameries will treat visitors to a truly local culinary experience, with interesting pairings that provide an authentic sense of place.

Less than a week until the Red Wine and Chocolate Tour!

The Red Wine and Chocolate tours are taking place the next two weekends of the month: February 9 & 10 and 16 & 17. We are so excited for this fun annual event! If you haven’t made plans for a romantic Valentine’s Day weekend, we would like to invite you to the Olympic Peninsula to taste some fine Washington Wine and enjoy the stunning natural beauty of our corner of the nation.

Tickets may be purchased at participating wineries during the event. The $30 ticket and glass package entitles you to a special commemorative wine glass, complimentary wine tasting and delectable samples of chocolate at each winery during the Red Wine & Chocolate Weekends. Note: this event does not take place at one location, but at each individual winery, so you can visit those you are interested in exploring.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Red Wine and Chocolate.

Tickets are not required to attend this event. A $5.00 wine tasting fee will be charged at each winery for non-ticketed visitors.

Here are some of the fun pairings you can look forward to experiencing during your Washington Wine and Chocolate Tour:

Fairwinds Winery: Experience the tallest chocolate fountain on the Peninsula – back by popular demand – with a delicious assortment of fruits and sweets for dipping. The rich dark chocolate pairs exceptionally well with Fairwinds’ Port O’ Call, a mellow port wine. Visitors can also taste the latest vintages of Gewürztraminer and Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend, and taste barrel samples of the soon to be released 2005 Champeaux Vineyards Cabernet and a 2005 Merlot.

Harbinger Winery: This year Harbinger Winery is thinking outside the box! Sample some out-of-this-world chocolate desserts with new releases and old favorites. Experience the “other taste” – umami – a Japanese word for savory, with the winery’s holy trinity sample, the award-winning Dynamo Red paired with Harbingers’ own chocolate potato chip creation. Afterwards, taste the Petit Sarah-infused “chocolate rocket,” and share your “dirty little wine secrets” in the “Confession Room” while trying a secret bonus pairing that inspires one to be a better wine drinker! Bar Hop Brewery, co-located at the winery, will treat beer lovers to their annual Venezuelan Chocolate Porter.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

 

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.

Celebrate International Women’s Day with Washington Wine

March 8, 2011, is the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day. This is a day for women to come together, recognize achievements, and look toward the future. In countries all around the globe, women meet to discuss politics, business, art, and societal needs. The overriding theme for 2011 International Women’s Day is “Equal access to education, training, and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women.”

Join Washington State Wineries in celebrating International Women's Day.

Two Washington State Wineries on the Olympic Peninsula are owned and operated by women: Olympic Cellars and Harbinger Winery. The other six Washington Wineries / Cideries are owned and operated by families or couples.

Support local Washington State wine and women winemakers on March 8, 2011. Olympic Cellars is hosting a Women’s Day Celebration at 6 p.m. There will be freshly baked bread, homemade soup, and of course locally crafted wine and cider. 2011 will be the 10th annual Olympic Cellars community IWD celebration, and all are welcome: women, men, and children.

The Spruce Railroad Trail

Feeling like a weekend of fresh air and exercise? Head to the Olympic Peninsula and hike the Spruce Railroad Trail, then enjoy a glass of Olympic Peninsula, Washington State Wine.

Looking forward to sipping wine and admiring the view at Camaderie Cellars this spring.

During World War I, a railroad was built to transport Sitka Spruce from the forests of the Olympic Peninsula to Seattle. Today, a section of the old railroad bed has been converted into the Spruce Railroad Trail, which hugs Lake Crescent. The trail is just under four miles and offers wonderful views of Lake Crescent and the surrounding Pacific Northwest forests.

A good walk is bound to make you thirsty. After hiking the Spruce Railroad Trail, stop by one of the Washington State Wineries in Port Angeles for a glass of locally crafted wine.

Harbinger Winery is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m (5 p.m. on Sundays). Tucked in the middle of the winery, it is a fun place to sip wine and their newest production – beer.

Olympic Cellars is open daily 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Take time to unwind in this historic old barn on Highway 101 before you head back from whence you came.

Black Diamond Winery reopens in March from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekends. Camaraderie Cellars is open weekends May through October.

Winter Hurricane Ridge

A winter getaway on the Olympic Peninsula should include a trip to Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park. Stunning views begin on the drive to the peak, where pull-outs look east to Mt. Baker and the Cascades. Admire intimate views of the Olympic peaks of Mt. Dana, Mt. Carrie, and Mt. Olympus from the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center, and follow the Cirque Rim Trail on a clear day to gaze at Port Angeles, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the San Juan Islands, and Victoria, BC.

In the winter, Hurricane Ridge Ski Area is a haven for skiers, snowboarders, sledders and snowshoers. The ski area at Hurricane Ridge is relatively small, but the powder is deep and it gives way to a limitless backcountry area. Novices will be comfortable on the groomed trails, but expert skiers and snowboarders will find it hard to keep away from nearby bowls, glades, and steeps.

Hurricane Ridge Ski Area

Relax after your day of fresh air and powder with a glass of Washington State Wine from an Olympic Peninsula Winery. Several Port Angeles Washington Wineries at the base of Hurricane Ridge offer wine tastings on the weekend: Camaraderie Cellars, Harbinger Winery, Black Diamond Winery, and Olympic Cellars. Learn about these locally crafted wines at the bar as the winemaker pours you a glass, and take your time selecting a bottle or two to take home or back to your lodging.

The best part of tackling a snowy mountain, after all, is how good you feel when you come down.

The Gift of Port Angeles Washington Wines

grapes

The magical fruit.

Give the gift of Port Angeles Washington wines this holiday. Offer them as gifts to friends and family, bring them to dinners, and serve them at your table.

Try Black Diamond Winery‘s Shiro Plum, featuring plums from their own private orchard. Talk about local. This dry fruit wine is produced from start to finish in Port Angeles, on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.

Try the 2002 Grâce from Camaraderie Cellars. It combines grapes from Fred Artz’ vineyard on Red Mountain, Paul Champoux at Mercer Ranch, and Len Parris at Chandler Reach; the Malbec comes from Crawford Vineyard in Prosser. All these bits of Washington State have been blended to create a wine that has won several international awards, including a Double Gold at the San Francisco International Competition. Drink it now or in years to come.

This month’s featured wines at Harbinger Winery are the 2007 Syrah and the 2007 Malbec. The Syrah is big and bold, with hints of leather and licorice and wonderfully deep, fruity aromas. The Malbec has a lovely backbone of tannins and acidity, balanced by ripe berries.

The wines at Olympic Cellars have been made from Eastern Washington’s Sagemore Farms’ and Champoux Vineyards’ grapes for 25 years. There are now three different labels produced at Olympic Cellars: Working Girl, award-winning but affordable; La Dolce Vida, five varietals of premium wine produced in small batches; and Dungeness, a heritage and artist series.

Offer these Washington State wines as gifts this year. They’ll be much appreciated.

Bottom Line Duo at Harbinger Winery

The incomparable Bottom Line Duo will play at Harbinger Winery in Port Angeles on Saturday December 4, 2010. Enjoy eclectic holiday music, eat local food, and drink our Washington State wines between 6:30 and 8 p.m.

The Bottom Line Duo. Photo by Michael Good Photography.

All inclusive cost: $35/person or $25/person for wine club members. Only 50 seats are available. Contact Harbinger Winery at (360) 452-4262 or email info@harbingerwinery.com.