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.

Cedar Creek Winemaker Dinner To Showcase Peninsula’s Best

On Saturday, February 7, Cedar Creek Restaurant in Sequim will host a Winemaker Dinner showcasing the “Best of the Olympic Peninsula.” The French inspired menu will feature nine wines, each crafted by one of our seven award-winning wineries. Timed to coincide with the annual Red Wine & Chocolate Tour, it’s the perfect way to wrap-up a day on the tasting trail! The four-course dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Tickets are $85 per person. For reservations, call 360.683.3983.

Research Shows Wine, Chocolate & Tea Improve Brain Performance

Good news just in time for the Olympic Peninsula Red Wine & Chocolate Tour! According to an article in the International Business Times, new research shows that consumers of wine, chocolate and tea performed significantly higher on tests and had lower prevalence of poor cognitive performance than those who do not indulge. The study was conducted by Oxford’s Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics and published in the Journal of Nutrition. The researchers link their findings to flavanoids, although they caution that more testing is needed to verify the connection. Evidence does point to wine having pronounced effects. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081222/wine-chocolate-and-tea-eaters-rejoice-consumption-improves-brain-performance.htm

Red Wine & Chocolate 2009 – Save the Date!

Mark your calendars! The Olympic Peninsula Wineries will once again host the popular Red Wine & Chocolate Tour over two delicious weekends, February 7-8 and February 14,15,16, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Enjoy award-winning red wines and new wine releases paired with a variety of chocolate delights ranging from sweet to savory. Wine specials will be available throughout the event.

Tickets are available online now at https://www.olympicpeninsulawineries.org/redwinechocolate.php.

On Saturday, Feb. 7, Cedar Creek Restaurant in Sequim will host a four-course Winemaker Dinner featuring seven locally produced wines. The event begins at
6 p.m. For further information and reservations, call 360.683.3983.