It’s true. Our Washington State Wineries have found more local cheeses to pair with our wines during the annual Northwest Wine & Cheese Tour on April 16 – 17, 2011.
Past blogs have featured Mystery Bay Farm of Marrowstone Island, Mt.Townsend Creamery of Port Townsend, Golden Glen Creamery and Gothberg Farms, both from Bow, and Wild Harvest Creamery of Chimacum.
Other local cheese makers to be featured at the Northwest Wine & Cheese Tour: (more…)
Anyone who has ever visited Port Townsend, WA, knows it to be a beautiful, historic, seaport town. Jaw-dropping views of Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, the Olympics and Cascades greet you at every turn. Closer to home, the coast of Whidbey Island evokes the White Cliffs of Dover.
Mount Baker, as seen from Fort Worden.
One hardly needs an excuse to visit Port Townsend, but there are plenty for those who feel they do. The upcoming Victorian Heritage Days, March 18 – 20, 2011, is sure to appeal to both history and architecture buffs. Special events include tours of Historic Uptown and Downtown Port Townsend (walking and bus tours available), Historic Clothing Fashion Show, and presentations on weatherizing old buildings and maintaining traditional wooden boats.
While in Port Townsend for Victorian Heritage Days, visit the local Washington State Wineries and sample their wines. FairWinds Winery and Sorenson Cellars are located in Port Townsend proper, while Eaglemount Wine and Cider, and Finnriver Farm and Cidery are located in nearby Chimacum. If you can’t make it out to the wineries, enjoy a glass of local wine at one of the many excellent restaurants in town; or stop by The Wine Seller on Water Street or Aldrich’s Market Uptown and pick up a bottle of local Washington Wine or Cider to bring home.
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.
Chocolate. Red Wine. Joy.
Is there anything better than following a bite of chocolate with a sip of good red wine? We think not.
Celebrate two of the best things in life with good friends, family, or that special someone. Join seven of our Washington State Wineries on the North Olympic Peninsula for two weekends of Red Wine and Chocolate: February 12 – 13, and February 19 – 21, 2011 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily).
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Celebrate the fall harvest with Washington State Wines.
Pull your favorite wine glass out of the cupboard and bring it with you to the 2010 Harvest Olympic Peninsula Winery Tour. Celebrate the fall harvest with Washington State Wines and Ciders and a sampling of fresh, delicious, food. Participants will be able to sample new releases and try old favorites.
For an added bit of fun, we’re adding a scavenger hunt this year. At each of the seven participating Washington State wineries and ciders you’ll be given a clue – find the item it describes and get a sticker on your card. If you find all the items and have the stickers to prove it, you’ll have a chance at wining a culinary gift basket.
Below are a few Harvest Festival details for each Olympic Peninsula winery / cidery.
Bring your own glass to the 2010 Harvest Wine Tour of Washington State Wineries on the Olympic Peninsula.
The amazing taste of fall.
Our Harvest Wine Tour takes place November 13 and 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at all seven member wineries. This is a great excuse to head to the Blue Hole in Sequim, which will probably be in high demand come mid November. Olympic Cellars on the road to Port Angeles, and Camaraderie Cellars and Black Diamond Winery in Port Angeles will serve an assortment of autumnal appetizers alongside their wines.
The Olympic Rain Shadow stretches to scenic Port Townsend, where Sorenson Cellars and FairWinds Winery will serve their finest Washington State Wines and FinnRiver Farm and Cidery will amaze you with their delicious hard cider. Tasty treats will accompany the wines.
For extra fun, each winery will host a scavenger hunt for wine-related items during the weekend.
This is a self-guided tour: start in Port Angeles and work your way to Chimacum, start in Port Townsend and work your way back, or criss-cross the peninsula. Your itinerary is up to you. Our wineries supply outstanding Washington State wines and ciders, food, and fun.
Tickets for this self guided tour are available in advance or at the door on a first come basis for $25.00 and entitle you to complimentary wine tastings and appetizers at each winery during the weekend. A tasting fee of $5.00 per person per winery will apply to non ticketed visitors.
For additional information and tickets, please visit our Harvest Wine Tour page.
The Port Townsend Accoustic Blues Festival is currently taking place at historic Fort Worden, in Port Towsend, WA. During the past fifteen years, some of the most respected names in Accoustic Blues have come to Washington’s Olympic Peninsula for this wonderful event. This year, as in the past, hundreds of musicians are spending most waking moments playing, listening, learning, and sharing the blues. (more…)
Last August, a herd of elk wandered through our Washington State Winery on the Olympic Peninsula. We assumed it was because they liked the scent of our wine.
We can’t promise the elk will drop by for some of our Washington State wine this August, but you never know. We can promise you an enjoyable wine tasting experience.
Elk graze near Olympic Cellars, between Sequim and Port Angeles, WA.
The Sequim Lavender Festival is just days away, and the Olympic Peninsula Wine and Lavender Tour is in progress. Showers today should freshen the farms so the lavender will look its best come Friday July 16, when the Lavender Festival begins. By then, skies will be blue and fields of lavender will dazzle the eyes with green, purple and blue.
But if you just can’t wait until this weekend, don’t. It is summer, after all, the best time to take a few days off work and treat yourself to a little rest and relaxation. Seven Washington wineries on the Olympic Peninsula are pouring hand-crafted wines and ciders as I write; why aren’t you enjoying a taste of it?
Immerse yourself in beautiful lavender fields during the 2010 Sequim Lavender Festival.
The Sequim Lavender Festival starts July 16, 2010, but Olympic Peninsula Wineries have decided to start celebrating a bit early. Our Washington State Wineries will be open daily from 11 am to 5 pm starting this Saturday, July 10.
Washington Wines featured at the Sequim Lavender Festival
Visit the 2010 Olympic Peninsula Lavender Festival and tour seven fine Olympic Peninsula Wineries.
The Sequim Lavender Festival is fast approaching. The 2010 festival runs Friday through Sunday, July 16, 17, 18. Visit seven lavender farms on the Olympic Peninsula, and while you’re out enjoying yourself, visit seven Washington state wineries on the Olympic Peninsula as well.
Olympic Peninsula Wineries are offering a Lavender Celebration Tour of Wineries from Saturday July 10 through July 18. All of our wineries will open from 11am to 5pm daily, and we’ll be pouring new and current releases. For more details, visit our Sequim Lavender Festival Wine Tour page. (more…)
Hang on to your sun hats everyone, because it’s almost time for ShrimpFest. This fantastic annual celebration of Hood Canal’s Spot Shrimp (and other local seafood) takes place Memorial Day Weekend. It’s a great excuse to head to the Olympic Peninsula.
ShrimpFest. Be there.
Bring your belt sander and enter decorated belt sander races (just so you can say you did). Bring a bucket and a shovel, so you can hunt for clams and oysters during low tides (license required). It’s a cute little festival, and always fun. (more…)