Port Townsend Rhody Fest 2014!

Rhody Fest 2014, Port Townsend’s annual Rhododendron Festival, is almost here!

If you’ve never been, you need to make the time to come and check it out. If you have attended before, well, I don’t need to say a thing, I’ll just see you there!

Rhody Fest has been the true herald of spring in and even well outside of Port Townsend for some 79 years, now. This historic, seaport town on the Olympic Peninsula goes all-out to celebrate the season and Washington’s state flower with a series of fun-filled and often hilariously zany events that are fun for the whole family.

This year’s Rhododendron Festival is scheduled to include: (more…)

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.

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.

Get Out and Admire the View

Early September is a fantastic time to visit Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park. As of this writing, there is snow only at the highest elevations. Hiking trails are open and views are out of this world.

Good company, glorious views, and a bottle of Washington Wine from the Olympic Peninsula. Perfect.

Much of the summer was a bit of a disappointment, at least with respect to weather. Low clouds and a low snow line did not inspire hiking. These last weeks of warmth and sun have helped remedy that, and the coming weeks should bring more of the same.

Plan a trip to the Olympic Mountains. Hike if you like, or simply sit and enjoy the stunning views from the top of Hurricane Ridge. You’ll feel the mist clear from your mind. You’ll feel happy.

We suggest you never visit the Olympic Peninsula without stopping by one or more of our member Washington Wineries. Speak with the wine makers, taste some wine, and bring home a bottle of Washington Wine to enjoy as you remember your glorious time on the Olympic Peninsula.

Please visit Olympic National Park for up-to-date information about hikes and conditions.

The New Dungeness Lighthouse

Walk to the New Dungeness Lighthouse, on the tip of Dungeness Spit in Sequim.

Perched on the end of the Dungeness Spit in Sequim, the New Dungeness Lighthouse is far from new. Yet today it is as remote and beautiful as it was more than 150 years ago. It’s worth a look the next time you’re visiting the Olympic Peninsula. Since the weather is supposed to be great during the next couple of weeks (at last!), plan a trip soon.

Dungeness Spit is the world’s longest natural sand spit, extending five miles into the Strait of Juan de Fuca (and growing every year). There is no quick way to get to the lighthouse at the end of the Spit – visitors must walk five miles to the end of the Spit and five miles back. Those who do are rewarded with stunning scenery, wonderful wildlife, fresh air, and peace.

A walk out to the New Dungeness Lighthouse is a fantastic way to celebrate a special occasion. It’s an incredible experience, even on the most blustery days. Once at the lighthouse, visitors are rewarded with amazing views from the top of the Lighthouse tower. On clear days, the Olympics, the North Cascades, and Mount Baker will knock your socks right off your feet.

Several picnic tables are located out by the lighthouse, and driftwood chairs are abundant on the beach. Picnics should include a bottle of Washington State Wine from the Olympic Peninsula – to celebrate your surroundings.

Celebrate the return trip with a stop at one of the nearby Olympic Peninsula, Washington State Wineries. Olympic Cellars, Harbinger Winery, Camaraderie Cellars, and Black Diamond Winery are all located in Port Angeles. All offer wine tasting.

It is possible to travel by boat to the New Dungeness Lighthouse. Advance notice must be given to the National Wildlife Refuge at 360.457.8451.

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer lighthouse Keeper, please visit New Dungeness Lighthouse.

Sol Duck Hot Springs and Washington Wine

Wouldn’t a soak in natural hot springs feel good right about now?

Sol Duc Hot Springs are located in the Olympic National Park, about an hour beyond Port Angeles, WA. It is a rustic paradise. Leave your cell phone at home and journey to a place where the main activities are soaking in mineral hot springs, hiking in the Olympic Mountains, and breathing in the fresh air.

Cabins are tucked among towering evergreens and along the Sol Duc River. There are non-kitchen cabins and cabins with kitchens; some sleep up to five people, some accommodate as many as ten. Come for a romantic getaway with one special person, or gather a group of friends for a weekend of fun.

If you are traveling from the Seattle area, you’ll pass through Port Angeles on your way to the Sol Duc Hot Springs. Take a few moments to stop at the Washington State Wineries there for wine tasting. You won’t want to travel into the heart of the Olympic National Park without a few bottles of delicious Washington State Wine.

The first winery you’ll pass is Olympic Cellars, which is just east of Port Angeles in a lovely old barn. Black Diamond Winery is three miles outside of the heart of Port Angeles, beautifully situated on 20-acres overlooking the Tumwater Creek. Camaraderie Cellars is a lush, intimate space just two miles west of Port Angeles. Harbinger Winery is in a wonderful converted ex-logging truck shop, right on 101 west of Port Angeles.

Stop by all four Port Angeles Washington Wineries; you’ll need a good deal of wine, for soaking in hot springs creates great thirst. On your way back home, you can stop by and pick up a few more bottles of your favorites.

Bring Washington State Wine to Sol Duc Hot Springs.

To make a lodging reservation, visit Sol Duc Hot Springs.

Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival

The 34th annual Wooden Boat Festival takes place in Port Townsend September 10-12, 2010. It’s a great time to head to the Olympic Peninsula. Every year, a spectacular assortment of wooden boats make the pilgrimage to Port Townsend, where they are admired and appreciated by thousands.

Now is a good time to plan to attend the Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend. Book a room and make a reservation at your favorite restaurant, but be sure to leave time for a little Washington state wine tasting at the two Washington State wineries in town: Sorenson Celllars and FairWinds Winery. On your way to or from the festival, pick up a bottle of amazing Washington State apple cider at FinnRiver Farm and Cidery, in Chimacum.

Admire wooden boats and beautiful scenery during Port Townsend's Wooden Boat Fesival

Good Reasons to Visit Olympic Peninsula Wineries

Stop by Port Townsend for the Rhody Festival and a glass of wine.

There are lots of good reasons to head to the Olympic Peninsula these days. For starters, try sunshine, glorious scenery, and many opportunities for outdoor recreation. Then there are six Washington State Wineries, open for visitation and ready to pour the wine.

There are also a number of upcoming events worth noting. Read on for just a few:

May 1, 2010, marks the start of the 115th Irrigation Festival in Sequim, WA. The longest running festival in the state of Washington, the Irrigation Festival celebrates the irrigation ditches that traverse Sequim and allowed the land to be cultivated in the 19th century. Look forward to parades, an arts and crafts festival, lawnmower races and a carnival. The town of Sequim steps out for this event for the weekends of May 1 and May 7, and it is well worth attending. Also on May 1, 2010, is the Victorian Spring Ball in Port Angeles. (more…)

Black Diamond Winery

The Black Diamond Winery of Port Angeles is a delightfully homespun Washington State Winery. Most of the fruits and grapes in their wines are grown on their estate, carefully tended by the winemakers themselves. You can taste the freshness of their ingredients in their refreshing fruit and grape wines.

Northwest Wine and Cheese Tour

Mark your calendars, for the Northwest Wine and Cheese Tour will be at the Washington State Wineries of the Olympic Peninsula on April 17 and 18, 2010. We’ll pair handcrafted local wines with locally made artisan cheeses, and the results will be out of this world.

Enjoy local, hand-crafted Washington wines and cheeses.

Six Washington State Wineries located in Port Townsend and Port Angeles will participate in the NW Wine and Cheese Tour. Our wineries will be open from 11 am to 6 pm both Saturday and Sunday. This allows ample time for you to leisurely visit all the wineries and sample a good selection of Washington State wines and cheese.

Cheesemakers from Mt. Townsend Creamery of Port Townsend and Mystery Bay Farm of Marrowstone Island will be at Olympic Cellars Winery, on Saturday. Sample these cheeses with the peninsula’s own Pane D’Amore bread and a selection of Olympic Cellars wines. Suzanne Tyler will present cheeses from Wild Harvest Creamery at Sorensen Cellars in Port Townsend.

Keep an eye out and a fork ready for amazing cheeses from Mount Townsend Creamery in Port Townsend, Golden Glen Creamery in Bow, and Montesano Estrella and Beechers in Seattle. We look forward to seeing which cheeses will be paired with the fantastic fruit wines of Black Diamond Winery. And we always love to see what is being poured in the lovely tasting rooms at Harbinger Winery and Camaraderie Cellars of Port Angeles. In Port Townsend, look for excellent cheese and wine parings at FairWinds Winery.

An added perk to any wine tasting event on the Olympic Peninsula is the Rain Shadow that protects most of this area from the rains that often fall in spring. We can’t absolutely guarantee sunshine, but you are more likely to find sunshine between Port Townsend and Port Angeles than anywhere else in Western Washington. Now that is worth toasting!

Tickets are now available online or by calling 800-785-5495. We encourage you to have a designated driver if you plan to thoroughly taste our Washington wines.