Community December 15, 2021

Must-Visit Wineries in the PNW

There is no doubt we have plenty of wonderful wineries in our area. In fact, Washington is the second-largest producer of premium wine in the United States with over 900 wineries.  The Columbia Valley is home to the largest selection of wineries and vineyards, but you can find many places closer to our beautiful Kitsap Peninsula. 

Bainbridge Island Wineries

The Winery Alliance of Bainbridge Island is a great one-stop site to check out all things wine on the Island. While grapes have been grown on Bainbridge since the 1970s, most wineries did not start serving until the early 2000s. In total, we have seven wineries/vineyards spanning Bainbridge, from Winslow to Lynwood. We’ve highlighted some wonderful places below.

Bainbridge Vineyards

Established in 1977, this vineyard proudly produces wine from the ground up and specializes in white wine varietals. The vines grow on some of the longest-running agricultural land in the area. 

Open: Thursday – Sunday 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM 

Tasting Flight: $18. Glass and bottle purchases available. 

Snacks available for purchase. You are also welcome to bring in takeout from a local restaurant.

Eagle Harbor

Eagle Harbor sources their grapes from Eastern Washington but produces them on the island. Their main concentration is red (Bordeaux) varietals. Additionally, they produce Sauvignon Blanc. At the Winery Tasting Room, you’ll find live music in the summer, and you can witness the wine-making process firsthand in the fall. 

Downtown Winslow Tasting Room: Open Thursday – Monday 12:00 – 5:00 PM and until 5:30 PM on weekends.

Winery Tasting Room: Open Thursday – Monday 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM and until 6:00 PM on Saturdays. Reservations Suggested.

Eleven Winery

Eleven Winery has two tasting room locations on the Island, one in downtown Winslow, and the other on Day Road. Reservations are not required at either location. Fun fact: if you bike to the Day Road location, you’ll receive a free tasting.

The first crush for this winery was in 2003, and they moved to their current large location in 2011. The owner Matt is a former professional cyclist, and the name was inspired by his former career. He is quoted on their site saying, “On a typical modern road bike, the smallest cog in the rear cluster has eleven teeth, and it’s the one that produces the maximum gear ratio. Therefore, when you’re at the point in the race when it’s all or nothing, when there’s no choice but to put every ounce of strength and determination you’ve got into the pedals no matter how much you’ve already suffered, when you have to give it absolutely everything you’ve got, you use The Eleven.”

Open: (Both locations) Daily 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Tasting Flight: $15 – $20. Glass and bottle purchases available.

Charcuterie, cheese, and snacks available for purchase.

Fletcher Bay Winery

This winery has two locations on Bainbridge Island. Their production facility is in the Coppertop Business Park, and their tasting room is in downtown Winslow. Their award-winning wines come from vineyards in the Columbia Valley and Yakima Valley as well as Oregon. They have been producing for a decade.

Their Facility in Coppertop Business Park is located near restaurants and a bakery.

Open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Wednesday 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Friday and Saturday 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Sunday 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM.  Reservations recommended. 

Tasting Flight: Start from $14. Glass and bottle purchases available.

Their Winslow Tasting Room is within walking distance of the Seattle – Bainbridge ferry and it has been open since 2018. 

Open: Monday – Thursday 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Friday & Saturday – 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Sunday 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Great Wine Across Kitsap

The Kitsap Peninsula offers many beautiful hikes and beaches, and wonderful wine tasting experiences! Here are a couple of places we recommend visiting.

Olalla Vineyard & Winery in Olalla

Serving a mix of wines made from grapes grown on-site, and in Eastern Washington, this winery has been open to the public since 2008. A mix of red and white varietals are produced here with the flagship wine being Golubok. It’s an Eastern European varietal that flourishes in the Pacific Northwest. Olalla focuses on agricultural tourism, offers live music, and can be rented out for weddings and events. 

Open: Thursday – Saturday from 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Sunday 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Tasting Flight: $10. Appointments preferred.

You can purchase picnic baskets and snacks. No outside food or beverages are permitted.

State 42 Wines in Poulsbo

With a production facility in Seabeck, a couple owns this winery and sources grapes from all over Washington state. They have been producing since 2017 and offer a range of wines. To learn more about this local gem, check out our recent State 42 interview.

Open: Wednesday – Sunday 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Tasting Flight: $10. Glass and bottle purchase available. 

Live music every Wednesday. Snacks for purchase, BYO-food allowed.

 

Wineries Beyond Kitsap

If you want to take your tasting experience a little further and explore our region, these places are worth the trip.

Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville

Perhaps one of the most famous wineries in Washington state, Chateau Ste. Michelle’s origin dates back to the repeal of prohibition. You can find a variety of events on their calendar. In the summer, they host large concerts in their amphitheater. Their best-known wine is their Riesling, which won a blind taste test by the Los Angeles Times in 1974. They are the top producer of Reisling in North America. 

Open: Daily 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM, weekends until 7:00 PM

Tasting Flight: Starts at $15. Enjoy a full food menu. Virtual tastings are also available.

Chateau Ste. Michelle is just one of the 110+ wineries you can find in the Woodinville area

Mt. Hood Winery in Hood River, OR

If you are looking for a weekend getaway, this could be your spot! The slogan “Come for the wine, stay for the views” is an understatement. The views from this vineyard are amazing. The volcanic soil the vines are planted in mixed with the climate makes for an ideal growing location of many varietals. This “seed to sip” operation has won many awards in recent years. And, if you want to stop here and visit a few others, view this wineries map. There are many others nearby. 

Open: Daily, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM (March through November) 

Tour groups are welcome by appointment.

Port Townsend Vineyards

Just outside Port Townsend proper, this vineyard is a beautiful venue for large events and features two distinct tasting rooms. They opened their doors in 2017 and produce wines from grapes grown in Port Townsend as well as in Eastern Washington and Oregon. 

Open: Sunday – Thursday 11:00 – 5:00 PM, Friday and Saturday 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Vintage is their tasting room and it’s located on the water in historic downtown Port Townsend. This space is curated for live music, food and wine pairings, and other events. They offer a welcoming indoor space as well as a large plaza. 

Open: Monday – Saturday 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Sunday 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Tasting Flight: $25. Reservations are required.

 

For more coverage of local wineries, watch our fun snapshot below.