Winter arrived earlier than expected on the North Olympic Peninsula, but this weekend backstops to savor the flavors of fall.
Such bounty’s best enjoyed in more than one sitting.
The annual Olympic Peninsula Wineries’ Harvest Wine Tour offers two days of self-guided touring across 10 wineries/cideries representing Chimacum, Nordland, Port Townsend, Sequim and Port Angeles.
With plenty to feast one’s palate, Olympic Peninsula Wineries President Vicki Corson invites tourgoers to attend both Saturday and Sunday, staying longer to talk shop with the wine- and cidermakers and revel in the attractions of each stop.
Tour hours span 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. — technically, though at least one winery pushes that end time, offering after-hours entertainment.
Two options exist for tickets: for $35, online tickets include complimentary tasting at all 10 venues, or one can pay a $10 tasting fee at each one. Any remaining tickets will be sold for $40 at participating locations.
Tickets can be purchased online at http://tinyurl.com/pdn-harvesttour.
The participating wineries and cideries include:
• Harbinger Winery, 2358 U.S. Highway 101 in Port Angeles, will serve slow-cooked pot roast with root vegetables, apple and chevre bites, wild mushroom and sausage quiche, and gluten-free cookies in addition to its selection of wines.
• Camaraderie Cellars, 334 Benson Road in Port Angeles, will invite tourgoers to cozy up around its firepit with a glass of one of its new releases: the 2015 Syrah or 2015 Les Amis. In celebration of its recent milestone, the winery will serve some of chef Steve’s recipes featured in its 25th anniversary cookbook — among them, turkey pumpkin chili and apple, pear and bacon jam.
• Olympic Cellars, 255410 U.S. Highway 101 in Port Angeles, will showcase the longest-standing (100-plus-year-old) barn in Clallam County, plus offerings of wine, hot sauce and fudge.
Available wines will include Dungeness Red Lemberger, Dungeness White Riesling, Cranberry Jubilee and spiced Dungeness Red. Tourgoers can also sample Lazy Soul Hot Sauce and fudge provided by We Do Fudge.
• Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W. Washington in Sequim, will feature locally grown produce and new menu items from its bistro. The winery may partner with Lamb Farm Kitchens, Savory Drizzle and Nash’s Farm, though that’s subject to change.
Live music and a full dinner menu will be offered after 5 p.m. Saturday for those tourgoers seeking to stretch out the experience.
• Alpenfire Orchards and Cidery, 220 Pocket Lane in Port Townsend, will dish out some of its 14,000 pounds of harvested apples, plus tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and quince. Freshly made quince membrillo will be served bruschetta-style with a sliver of Chimacum Valley Dairy’s cheese and Alpenfire’s new cider, Discovery Trail. Spicy pickled pepper bruschetta will served with a cocktail made from the cider, Spark, and smoky caponata-topped bruschetta will meet bone-dry cider.
For something sweet, tourgoers can taste fresh-basked Ashmeads Kernal apple, walnut cake and a dinner tipple, Smoke.
• Fairwinds Winery, 1984 Hastings Ave. in Port Townsend, will offer 20 percent discounted wine and gift purchases and 30 percent discounted case sales. Finger food and butternut squash soup will be served.
• Port Townsend Vineyards, 2640 W. Sims Way in Port Townsend, will offer tours of its production room. As a new addition to the tour, the vineyards will familiarize tourgoers with its winemaking process.
In its enclosed pavilion, guests can sip wine along with an assortment of cheeses, meats, crackers, chocolates and nuts. Prepackaged wine totes of four bottles and six bottles will be discounted for the occasion.
• Eaglemount Winery & Cidery, 1893 S. Jacob Miller Road in Port Townsend, will debut its 2017 fall seasonal, Cranberry Mead, and new vintages of Osprey and a Sangiovese.
As the only venue to offer both cider and wines, Eaglemount will offer pairings with local cheese, Crust Pie’s Chai-Apple and Savory Pumpkin Hand Pies.
• Marrowstone Vineyards, 423 Meade Road in Nordland, will offer an assortment of warm bites and red wines, and new art by Mike Biskup will be on display.
• Finnriver Farm & Cidery, 124 Center Road in Chimacum, will celebrate the season with cider doughnuts and special release ciders, including Orchard Series Blue Hewe Cider fermented with high tannin crab apples and tempered by organic blueberries and Cranberry Rosehip seasonal cider with tart organic Washington cranberries and locally wildcrafted rosehips.
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Reporter Sarah Sharp can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at ssharp@peninsula dailynews.com.
