Celebrate Locally Grown Wine and Cheese

Locally grown. It’s a movement that has been quietly growing for years in this country, especially in the Pacific Northwest. More and more people are shopping at farmers markets and joining CSAs. More and more people are purchasing eggs freshly hatched from local chickens, raw milk, and grass-fed beef. These foods may cost a bit more in dollars, but there is growing consensus that the cost to the environment is less.

Spend the weekend of April 16 - 17, 2011, exploring locally made wine and cheese.

Washington State is blessed with a mild climate, fertile valleys, and abundant grasslands. On the Olympic Peninsula alone, our farmers produce a great variety of fruits and vegetables, meats, seafood, and milk. A trip to the Port Townsend, Sequim, or Port Angeles Farmers Markets reveals not only these fresh foods, but a host of items made from them; fresh jams, baked goods, artisan cheeses, and of course, Washington State wine and cider.

NW Wine and Cheese Tour: April 16 – 17, 2011.

Olympic Peninsula Wineries and Cideries are joining together the weekend of April 16 and 17, 2011, for the NW Wine and Cheese Tour – to celebrate Washington State wines, ciders, and cheeses. Vintners and Cheesemakers are lining up sensational pairings of wine and cheese (it’s a tough job…), and look forward to sharing them with all who attend the NW Wine and Cheese Tour.

We hope you’ll plan to visit the Olympic Peninsula for the NW Wine and Cheese Tour, April 16 – 17, 2011. Advance Tickets for the self-guided tour include a commemorative wine glass and complimentary wine and cheese tastings at all seven participating Washington State wineries. Individual Wine and cheese tastings are also available at all participating wineries and ciders, for a fee of $5.

For additional information or advance tickets, please visit see the NW Wine and Cheese Tour.

Indulge in Wine and Chocolate Because You Can.

Much of the country is paralyzed under umpteen feet of snow. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we should celebrate our ability to travel freely by, well, traveling.

The upcoming Red Wine and Chocolate Festival at our Washington State Wineries is a great incentive to travel to the Olympic Peninsula the weekends of February 12 and 13, and 19, 20, and 21. Picture a towering fountain of flowing chocolate and barrels of delicious Washington State Wine. Why stay at home when you can experience that?

Wine and chocolate may not be inherently romantic, but they can be a lovely addition to a romantic moment. In honor of Valentine’s Day, enjoy a romantic getaway on the Olympic Peninsula – in Port Angeles, Sequim, or Port Townsend. Visit our Olympic Peninsula Wineries to sample a variety of Washington State Wines and a delicious array of chocolate creations.
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Chocolate and Wine, Wine and Chocolate

Indulge in pure joy - red wine and chocolate.

Every year in February the Washington State wineries of the Olympic Peninsula dedicate two weekends to chocolate and wine. This comes at the perfect time – when the holidays seem ages in the past and spring seems far off in the future. Our advice: do not despair. Drink wine and eat chocolate.

The Red Wine and Chocolate Festival takes place on February 12 & 13, and February 19 – 21 (President’s Day Weekend); doors open at 11 a.m. and close at 5 p.m.. Each participating Washington State winery will serve perfectly paired wine and chocolate. If you’ve never tried the two together, you simply don’t know how good life can be. (more…)

Sailing Adventure in Port Townsend

Fall means wind, and wind means sailing. It’s an exciting time to take a sailboat out from Port Townsend, on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, so why not run away for the weekend and do just that? After a day on the water, head to one of the Washington State wineries in Port Townsend for a little wine tasting – it will help warm you from the inside out.

Run Away to Port Townsend and enjoy sailing with the Port Townsend Schooner Company.

The Port Townsend Schooner Company runs sailings out of Point Hudson Marina in Port Townsend aboard their 59′ traditionally rigged Pinky Schooner, Pleiades. They specialize in two-hour tours of the Port Townsend Bay but will also make longer journeys to Protection Island, out in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, or beyond. You may make arrangements for full day sailings if you like, to simply let them take you where they will. Once you board, sit back and enjoy views of the historic waterfront town of Port Townsend and the Olympic Mountains rising beyond, or roll up your sleeves and relax. The choice is yours.

Should you decide to bring a picnic on board with you, consider stopping by one of the three wineries in Port Townsend and Chimacum for a bottle of Washington State wine or cider: FinnRiver Cidery in Chimacum has terrific hard cider; FairWinds Winery features a lovely white Burgundy, Aligote, as well as a tasty Lemberger; and Sorenson Cellars has a lovely 2007 Viognier that goes well with dried fruits and chèvre – perfect for a sailing picnic.

For more information about the Port Townsend Schooner Company, please visit their website.