Visit a Marine Sanctuary

The Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary encompasses 135 miles of coastline. It’s located on the Olympic Peninsula, in the northwest corner of Washington State, and much of it is remote and wild. We’re fortunate to live and work so close to this national treasure.

Kalaloch Sunset - Olympic National Park

Sunset at Kalaloch, in the Olympic National Park.

Many of the people who visit our 8 member Olympic Peninsula Wineries and Cideries are either coming from- or going to- the coast. They come from the greater Seattle area and they come from east of the Cascade Mountains. They travel from Canada and they come from points farther south and east. People are drawn to the Washington Coast. We’re not surprised.

Some visitors want to walk to the tip of Cape Flattery, the most northwestern point in the lower 48. Others come to see the sea stacks off the beaches of La Push, or to hike from Ozette Lake to the coast. Some dream of running on the wide, sandy beaches of Kalaloch. Others dream of digging for clams on the beaches of Moclips.

Whatever your reasons for visiting the Olympic Coast, we hope you’ll take time to visit some of the Washington State Wineries located on the Olympic Peninsula. Sample some of the wines made here, and when you find one you like, bring it with you. Share it while camping or bring it back home and, as you sip it, remember the magnificent Olympic Coast.

Highlights of the Wine and Cheese Tour

NW Wine and Cheese Tour Olympic Peninsula

Wine and cheese. Yum.

Join Washington State Wineries and Cideries on the Olympic Peninsula for the 2012 NW Wine and Cheese Tour, April 14 and 15.

Read on for a list of what not to miss. Additional information is available on our Olympic Peninsula Wineries Events page.

Black Diamond Winery

  • Sip 2007 Syrah and Muller Thurgau with three types of Golden Glen Creamery Fresh Curd.
  • Finish with Plum and Raspberry wines.

Camaraderie Cellars

  • Sip Trinquer, a delicious white blend, and nibble amazing blue cheese cookies from Spoonful Caterers.
  • Try the newly released Malbec with several cheeses from Wilapa Hills Creamery.

Eaglemount Wine & Cider

  • Sample the new Cabernet Sauvignon and hard cider.

FairWinds Winery

  • Try Back Country Creamery’s Trailblazer with a glass of Gewurztraminer.
  • Enjoy Summit House with a glass of the Cabernet/Merlot blend.
  • Discover the wonderful combination of Camp Chego and Mead.

Finnriver Farm & Cidery

  • Enjoy spring goat cheeses from Mystery Bay Farm with glasses of sweet wine and sparkling cider.

Harbinger Winery

  • Try the 2010 Rose with any cheese.
  • Sip the Reserve Syrah with cheddar aged near the banks of the Samish River.
  • Pair Raspberry Bliss (made from locally grown berries) with a smokey blue cheese from the Rogue Valley.

Olympic Cellars

  • Enjoy the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon with Golden Glen Creamery’s Double-Cream River Cheddar.
  • Try the 2009 Chardonny alongside a Wine and Cheese Soup and artisan bread with Golden Glen butter.

Wind Rose Cellars

  • Sample a variety of Black Sheep Creamery cheeses with the 2011 Pinot Grigio, the 2010 Barbera dry rose, and the 2010 Dolcetto.

 

 

Olympic Peninsula Wineries Photo Contest

Olympic Peninsula Wine and Cheese Tour

Participate in our upcoming photo contest.

The Olympic Peninsula is a scenic place.

Bring your camera to the Olympic Peninsula Wineries NW Wine and Cheese Tour on April 14 and 15, 2012. All are invited to participate in our first annual “Sip Wine and Cider, Say Cheese” Photo Contest.

Our wineries and cideries are located in some truly lovely spots.

  • Olympic Cellars’ historic barn, with the Olympic Mountains in the background. Finnriver Farm & Cidery’s rolling fields and orchards.
  • Camaraderie Cellars’ expansive patio and lush gardens.
  • Harbinger Winery’s cool, industrial setting.
  • Black Diamond Winery’s acres of grapes overlooking Tumwater Creek.
  • Eaglemount Wine & Cider’s lovely historic homestead and orchards.
  • FairWinds Winery overlooking the Olympic Mountains outside Port Townsend.
  • Wind Rose Cellars’ cozy tasting room in the heart of downtown Sequim.

 

Washington State Hard Cider.

Finnriver Farm and Cidery.

Take photos of the scenery, the Washington wine, hard cider, the cheese. We’re looking for memorable photos to mark the occasion. The top 3 entries will be posted on the Olympic Peninsula Wineries website and Facebook page. Winners will receive a pair of tickets to the 2012 Harvest Wine Tour, November 11-13.

NW Wine and Cheese Tour photo contest

The historic barn at Olympic Cellars.

 

 

A Locavore’s Dream: Washington Wine and Cheese

Wine is a wonderful. It can be enjoyed on its own and it can bring out the best in food. For every meal, there is a wine. For every moment, there is a wine. Yes, wine is wonderful.

2012 NW Wine and Cheese Tour

We're looking forward to trying the cheese from Black Sheep Creamery.

It’s hard to think of a more perfect combination than wine and cheese. Perhaps that’s because both wine and cheese are so diverse. There are big, bold Cabernets and there are light, effervescent, whites. There are delicate goat cheeses and strong blue cheeses. It would be easy to devote a lifetime to finding perfect combinations of wines and cheeses, and people have. The right combination can be out-of-this-world.

The Wineries of the Olympic Peninsula are looking forward to trying new combinations of Washington State Wines and Cheeses during our upcoming Northwest Wine and Cheese Tour, April 14-15, 2012.

Read on for a list of participating cheesemakers, and make your plans to attend the Olympic Peninsula’s 2012 Northwest Wine and Cheese Tour. (more…)

The Winter Wonderland of Hurricane Ridge

Hurricane Ridge is truly a winter wonderland. You can cross country ski, downhill ski, snowboard, telemark, snowshoe and sled there. Novice winter sports enthusiasts will feel comfortable here, and experts can find a challenge. On clear days, the sun is warm and the views seem endless.

Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park

Beautiful Hurricane Ridge, in the Olympic National Park.

Rangers offer guided snowshoe walks out of Hurricane Ridge on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holiday Mondays at 2 p.m. Expect to be out for 90 minutes, and to donate $5 for the snowshoes and the talk. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with the area, and with safety issues. Once you feel comfortable walking on snow, the winter world of Hurricane Ridge will open to you.

Nearby trails cover some 20 miles of the Olympic National Park. They run along ridges, parallel creeks, and head into valleys. The Switchback Trail is 1.6 miles long and goes from 4,400 feet to 5,900 feet. The Hurricane Ridge to Switchback Trail is 2.8 miles long and goes from 5,300 feet to 5,100 feet. The Lake Angeles – Klahane Ridge Trail spans 6.3 miles, going from 1,850 feet to 6,000 feet in elevation. The Heather Park Trail has the same elevations but is a touch shorter and steeper.

If you live in the Seattle area, the snow-capped Olympic Mountains smile down on you on clear days. Get to know them more intimately. Spend a few days on the Olympic Peninsula and visit Hurricane Ridge.

Sipping a glass of Washington State Wine from the Olympic Peninsula is the best way to conclude a day spent playing on Hurricane Ridge. Several wineries are located at the base of Hurricane Ridge, in Port Angeles. Stop by and try a glass or two.

 

Savor Life

We had a great turnout for the first weekend of our Red Wine and Chocolate Tour. Thanks to everyone who journeyed to the Olympic Peninsula to enjoy delicious combinations of locally made chocolate and Washington State Wine.

Olympic Peninsula Red Wine and Chocolate Tour

Take advantage of the upcoming long weekend and journey to the Olympic Peninsula for the Red Wine and Chocolate Tour.

If you were unable to make it to Port Townsend, Sequim, or Port Angeles wineries and cideries this past weekend, you’ll have another opportunity this weekend. The Red Wine and Chocolate Tour of Olympic Peninsula wineries continues February 18-20, 2012.

Spend a couple of nights in a romantic Port Townsend Bed and Breakfast. Rent a cozy cottage in Sequim. Book a room overlooking the water in Port Angeles. Allow yourself plenty of time to visit the eight Washington Wineries and Cideries participating in the Red Wine and Chocolate Tour. If you visit each one, you’ll be eligible to win an elegant gift basket.

Take advantage of the coming long weekend. Spend your time sipping wine, savoring chocolate, and immersing yourself in the beauty of the Olympic Peninsula. Visit Dungeness Spit. Walk the trails of Fort Warden. Ride your bikes along a stretch of the Olympic Discovery Trail. Visit a beautiful farm in Chimacum.

Please see our Red Wine and Chocolate Tour for additional information, and plan you weekend getaway now.

Olympic Peninsula Home To “Coolest Small Town”

Old Boat and Point Wilson Lighthouse

Fort Worden, one of Port Townsend's many perks.

Each year, Budget Travel asks its readers to nominate an American small town for the title Coolest Small Town. The choices are then whittled down to the top 10, and those are put to a vote. To our delight, Port Townsend, Washington, has made the 2012 short list for America’s Coolest Small Towns.

There are a few parameters. Each town must have a population under 10,000. It must be “on the upswing,” thanks to a vibrant arts scene, good restaurants, or its proximity to nature. The town must also eschew quaint and embrace edginess.

Given theses parameters, Port Townsend should be a shoe-in.

  • It’s hip, with edgy artists and a sizable number of residents who live there precisely because it isn’t like every where else.
  • It has astoundingly strong arts and culture for a town of its size, with an impressive list of festivals such as the Film Festival and the Wooden Boat Festival.
  • It has Centrum: Centrum is responsible for the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, a Chamber Music Festival, a Jazz Festival, a Blues Festival, and a host of other artistic programs.
Hastings Building, Port Townsend, WA

Port Townsend also has beautiful, historic buildings.

  • It’s home to Fort Worden.

Port Townsend can go neck and neck with just about any town in the country for natural beauty. It sits on the tip of the Quimper Peninsula, which is located on the Olympic Peninsula. Two volcanic peaks stand in the east, Mount Baker to the north and Mount Rainier to the south. The Cascade Mountain Range rises in the distance behind the white cliffs of Whidbey Island to the east, and the snow-capped Olympic Mountains lie to the west. It impossible to remain indifferent to the view. And opportunities for outdoor recreation are abundant.

In addition, three of our member Washington State Wineries are located in and near Port Townsend: FairWinds Winery, Eaglemount Wine & Cider, and FinnRiver Farm & Cidery.

If you’ve been to Port Townsend, you’ve probably already cast your vote. If you haven’t been there, or if it’s been a while, go take a look. Have a glass of Washington State Wine or Cider made on the Olympic Peninsula. Stay in a Bed and Breakfast or Boutique Hotel. Then cast your vote for Port Townsend as America’s Coolest Small Town. Votes accepted through January 31, 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

Discover the Olympic Discovery Trail

Railroad Bridge over Dungeness River

Park at the Railroad Bridge in Sequim and bike to one of our member wineries in Port Angeles.

One of the many wonderful qualities of Washington State is that it is home to such diverse terrain and climates. Tall volcanic peaks such as Mount Baker and Mount Rainier are snow-covered twelve months a year. The lush forests of the Hoh are green twelve months a year. There are ocean beaches and high plateaux. There are steep canyons, rolling palouse, and several mountain ranges.

This diversity means that the sun is almost always shining somewhere in the state.

On the Olympic Peninsula, the sun shines most frequently in the Olympic Rain Shadow; Sequim and Port Townsend are the two towns that benefit most from the sheltering presence of the Olympic Mountains. Whereas the Seattle area receives an average annual rainfall of close to 40 inches, Sequim receives approximately 15 inches a year. Port Townsend gets a whopping 17 inches. That is a significant difference.

The Olympic Discovery Trail is a great spot to stretch the legs with a run, a walk, or a bike ride. The trail currently stretches from Ediz Hook in Port Angeles to the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Center at the south end of Sequim Bay. Other completed sections of the trail are in Port Townsend and west of Port Angeles. Eventually the trail will extend from Port Townsend to the Pacific Coast.

When the persistent low cloud cover in the Seattle area starts to bring you down this winter, load your bike in the car and head to the Olympic Discovery Trail. Make it a day trip or stay for a few days. It’ll do wonders for you.

While you’re on the Olympic Peninsula, we hope you’ll be in the mood to try some Washington State Wine and Cider. You’ll find three wineries on the Port Angeles end of the Olympic Discovery Trail: Camaraderie Cellars, Harbinger Winery, and Black Diamond Winery. Olympic Cellars is a great spot to rest mid-route; it sits near the border of Sequim and Port Angeles.

Stop for a taste, or pick up a bottle and enjoy it once you’re safely back home.

More information about the trail is available at Olympic Discovery Trail.

Olympic Peninsula Red Wine and Chocolate Tour

For many of us, February on the Olympic Peninsula means red wine and chocolate.Life is beautiful, even in February.

Folks often believe February in the Pacific Northwest to be a bit dreary. In truth, the second month of the year typically includes many days of grey and rain. Fear not! The antidote to February Glums is the miraculous combination of chocolate and red wines from Washington State.

For the past several years, Olympic Peninsula Wineries have given new meaning to the month of February. We devote two weekends to the delightful combination of red wine and chocolate; locally made chocolates are tasted and paired with our own Washington State Wines. What can we say? “It’s a tough job…”

In 2012, the Red Wine and Chocolate Tour will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the weekends of February 11-12 and February 18-20. We are currently exploring bold new combinations guaranteed to rock your world. Take our word for it–you won’t want to miss this event. Mark your calendars now.

Tickets are not required to attend the Red Wine and Chocolate Tour, but advance tickets do guarantee admittance. The $30 ticket includes admittance to all eight participating wineries (in Port Angeles, Port Townsend, and Chimacum), a commemorative wine glass, and complimentary wine and chocolate tasting at each winery. If you have your ticket stamped at all participating wineries, you’ll be eligible to win a gift basket.

Non-ticketed visitors will be charged a $5.00 wine / chocolate tasting fee at each winery.

The Washington State Wineries of the Olympic Peninsula encourage responsible drinking, and we will not serve or sell wine to any guest who appears intoxicated.

Happy New Year from the Olympic Peninsula

We’d like to extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who visited our Washington State Wineries and Cideries in 2011. Thanks for journeying to the beautiful Olympic Peninsula. Thanks for taking the time to visit us, taste our wine and cider, and chat with us about what we do and why we do it. We all love what we do, but the work wouldn’t be nearly so fun if we couldn’t share our wine and cider with you.

We hope to see you again in 2012.

Happy New Year from Olympic Peninsula Wineries!

Happy New Year!

New Year’s Resolution: Be a Locavore

As you review the past year and consider the year to come, we at Olympic Peninsula Wineries would like to encourage you to be a locavore.

This is what being a locavore in Washington State looks like.

We don’t mean to suggest that you should eat and drink only locally produced foods and drinks 100% of the time (though what an accomplishment that would be).   The joys of biting into colorful, juicy Satsumas during grey Pacific Northwest winters are too great to overlook. We do hope you’ll consider the benefits of eating locally: to your health, to the environment, and to your local economy.

This blog is no place for a diatribe, so we’ll keep it short and sweet. Eating locally:

  • keeps your money in your community
  • reduces your carbon footprint
  • tastes and feels good

Those of us who live in the Pacific Northwest are lucky: we can eat a varied diet of foods grown and raised here twelve months a year. We can grow kiwis and tomatoes and greens and berries in our backyards. We can find a wide variety of artisan, farmstead cheeses, free-range chickens, and grass-fed beef at farmers markets. We can eat wild salmon and Hood Canal oysters. We can drink Washington State wine and cider and beer.

In short, eating local in Washington State means eating pretty darn well.

Be kind to yourself in 2012. Be a locavore.

Olympic Peninsula Wineries Holiday Open House

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, it’s time to start considering Christmas and Hanukkah. This year, gift a gift that can be truly enjoyed. Give a bottle of  Washington State Wine from the Olympic Peninsula.

Give special gifts this year. Give Washington Wine made on the Olympic Peninsula.

Find the perfect wines for the oenophiles in your life by attending our Holiday Open House. All eight of our Olympic Peninsula Wineries and Cideries will be open from noon until 5 p.m. on December 10 and 11, 2011. Make a weekend of it (holiday shopping need not be dreary), and visit all of them.

Take your time. Stretch your legs at beautiful, rural, Eaglemount Wine & Cider and Finnriver Farm & Cider. Spend a few hours at the Port Townsend wineries, Sorensen Cellars and FairWinds Winery. Pass the night in Port Townsend, where you can enjoy an excellent meal at Fins Coastal Cuisine or The Silverwater, then head to Port Angeles on Sunday, where you can leisurely taste at Olympic Cellars, Black Diamond Winery, Harbinger Winery, and Camaraderie Cellars. You may even want to make a long weekend of it.

If you know your oenophiles to have certain preferences, talk to the pourers at the various wineries. They’re in the best position to help you find the right wines.

Won’t it feel good to have your holiday shopping finished by the 12th?