WINO Wine Tours: Bainbridge Island & North Olympic Peninsula

As with all of our reviews, opinions, quips and rants, they are of little consequence to you, the reader. What we are really trying to do here is encourage you to get out and experience these venues for yourself. Try the wines, meet those who make it possible, and take in the environment. Wine is not just about juice, it’s about tradition, friends, and natural processes. So, get out there. Take a trip, visit these places and expand thy palate. -The Publishers

Bainbridge Island Vineyards & Winery
8989 East Day Road
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

The uniqueness of Bainbridge Island Winery can not be understated. From the ferry ride across the Puget Sound to the old vintner who’s tended the vineyard for over three decades, you can’t help but feel as if you’re taking part in something special. Gerard and Jo Ann Bentryn, owners and operators of Bainbridge Island Wineries, are proud to be among some of the very first bonded wineries in Washington State. The wines are all made from estate fruit, something only a fraction of wineries today can claim. The wines are in the tradition of Northern European wines, Germany and Alsace, light and elegant, from non-traditional varieties such as Müller-Thurgau, Madeleine Angevine (Mad Ang), and one of my new favorites, Siegerrebe (pronounced zee-gah-RAY-beh). On a busy day of wine tourists, the tasting space can get a little cramped. Small price to pay for uniqueness in our book.

Camano Cellars
7420 300th St NW
Stanwood, WA 98292

The Tazer Valley farm, home to Tom Tazer and Geno Genovese and their 1000 case winery, Camano Cellars, is located amongst beautiful Stanwood farm country just a few miles off of I-5. The plot hosts not only the winery but a custom built, old world barn with the sole purpose of granting brides-to-be their wish of an elegant, traditional wedding ceremony. Tom assured us though that it’s the winery that get people to talking and tasting. “We typically close the winery doors when hosting a wedding or party. It’s just not fair to the bride and groom when half of the guests are standing around, tasting wine,” Tom says with a chuckle. Makes sense. While the winery is not technically open to the public, Tom and Geno are more than welcoming to any party, big or small, who calls before dropping in. There is no tasting fee and bottle prices are for the most part under $20. The wines are tasty, especially the reds, though the tannins will come off as a bit soft for many palates.

Sorensen Cellars
27 4 Otto Street, Bldg S
Port Townsend, WA 98368

If you don’t live on the Northern Olympic Peninsula, it takes a certain amount of stamina to visit Sorensen Cellars. An hour’s drive north of Bainbridge Island, Sorensen Cellars resides in a simple, unassuming building in a land where GPS fears to tread (Google Maps on the 3G iPhone insisted we were in Bellingham). The 2006 Pinot Gris / Sauvignon Blanc blend was crisp and slightly effervescent, and the Cab Franc was especially good. A small, clean tasting room with a rural, heart-of-America feel, the surprise came in the form of Sharon, who was pouring wines that day–a pierced and tattoo-covered hipster clad in black who spoke eloquently of the Sorenson wines and the industry. interestingly, Sharon doesn’t like wine magazines. Neither do we, Sharon, neither do we. (With an exception or two.)

Eleven Winery
278 Winslow Way East
Bainbridge Island, WA 9811 0

Right in the heart of downtown Bainbridge Island, the shared tasting room of Eleven and Eagle Harbor Wine Co. is located in a small shopping plaza full of specialty stores. After half an hour on the ferry from Seattle, one quickly forgets that they’re so near the city. Walking down the street on the way to the tasting room, you half-expect to hear the theme song to the Andy Griffith Show being whistled in your ear. The laid-back feel of the tasting room is much the same. A long, narrow space, there’s just enough room to sidle up to the bar, which runs the length of the place, and have a taste of several wines from both wineries. The whites were perfect for the hot summer day, and cooling down, the reds brought back that warm-contentedness that only red wine can. Just a block from the local Farmer’s Market (where a sign promised “hot pood”), the Eleven/Eagle Harbor tasting room is a good place to stop and relax.

Port Townsend Brewing Co.
330 10th Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368

While not a winery, per se, and without much wine to speak of, Port Townsend Brewing Co. is a must-stop while you’re in the area. With eleven beers on tap, any beer-lovin’ American can find something to suit them, and how. After a day of wine-tasting, The Port Townsend Brown Porter offered a stern reminder of just how good beer can be. From the outside, PTBC looks like another just industrial building with corrugated aluminum siding, large garage doors and miscellaneous equipment, but inside everything is rich with wood, and the crunch of peanut shells covering the floor makes you feel right at home. You can even buy a growler—a half-gallon glass jug—for just four bones, and have it filled for just another ten. Take it with you the next time, and get it filled again and again. Beer to go never tasted so good.

Fair Winds Winery
1924 Hastings Ave W.
Port Townsend, WA 98368

Joe, the Man Behind the Counter at FairWinds Winery up near Port Townsend, gave us a funny look when we walked through his door just twenty mintues before closing time. “I knew that if I started to pack up, a whole crew would come in. Sure enough,” he gruffed, followed by a laugh as he began bringing out the opened bottles of wine for tasting. This set the stage for what we will remember as one of the more unique tour stops we’ve had to date. Joe poured no less than six wines, including a fireweed honey Mead (off-dry, surprisingly), a Port-style desert wine accompanied by chocolate, a wine-club-only Lemberger, and my favorite, a 60/40 Cab Sauv and Merlot blend. FairWinds winery is a bit out of the way for some but would likely be a happy destination for all.