It’s hard to argue with more than 600 people having a rockin’ good time sipping wine and eating chocolate. That would be the folks who bought Groupon tickets for the Red Wine and Chocolate Passport event held for the first time at the six wineries on the South Sound Wine Trail. It’s a match made in heaven: big-bodied reds, luscious truffles and pastries and the warm feeling of supporting local businesses. Plus it’s a great value: six tastings and free desserts at six venues for just $20.
And if you don’t make it this weekend, you can organize your own tour another time. We give you the low-down on the tastes, the locations and what else there is to do while you’re exploring these home-grown wineries.
Medicine Creek Winery
Where: 947 Old Pacific Highway S.E., Olympia
More information: 360-701-6284, medicinecreekwinery.com
Hours: Noon-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday (plus 5-8:30 p.m. Fridays from June to September)
Specialty: Bordeaux-style reds
Also nearby: Historical monument to Medicine Creek Treaty at the 76 gasoline station a fourth of a mile north
This would be a pretty place in summer with rolling green countryside and a marquee-covered beer garden where jazz bands play Friday nights. Inside the big red barn on a winter weekend, it’s extremely cozy. Dim with red lighting, antique swing doors and a replica stage coach, the four-year-old Medicine Creek winery has the atmosphere of a Wild West bordello. The staff is friendly and the food is superb: aged cheeses, a chocolate fountain and silky-smooth truffles made by winemaker Jim Myers’ wife, Liz.
“I love it,” said Joy Walker, there for her first stop on the wine tour with two Olympia friends. “I’ve been to wine tours in Eastern Washington and this is the most beautiful setup I’ve ever seen. It’s gorgeous.”
Walker was drinking the Stage Coach Red blend, which was rather edgy. Also on the tasting menu was a smooth Cabernet Sauvignon with honey and berry notes; a thin but well-flavored Cabernet Franc; the Fini dessert wine, which was not too sweet with a tannic cinnamon finish; a sharply fruity Syrah; and a thin Merlot.
Liz Myers is enthusiastic about the newly minted wine and chocolate weekend, which is just the second event since the six South Sound wineries decided to collaborate. “It’s helped us to do more marketing as a group than we could have done by ourselves,” Myers said.
Stottle Winery
Where: 2641 Willamette Drive N.E., Suite C, Lacey
Information: 360-515-0356, stottlewinery.com
Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday
Specialty: Italian-style reds
Also nearby: Shipwreck Beads, just one building away
An exit south of Medicine Creek on Interstate 5, the trio of Stottle, Madsen and Northwest Mountain wineries sit in a rather uninspiring neighborhood of light industry and big-box stores. But inside the prosaic warehouse doors are pretty unusual tastes.
Stottle is a good example. With the elegant, oak-topped bars and sculpted-wood panels, the tasting room is light, breezy and full of people sipping Italian-style reds owners Josh and Amy Stottlemyer were busy pouring. Even the ticketing system had class: Rather than just receiving six paper tickets when you get your entry passport stamped, you get a baggie of heart-shaped beads to drop into a wineglass every time you get a taste poured.
On the food table were four flavors from Bonjour Cupcakes in Olympia: triple chocolate, vanilla/raspberry, red velvet and the not-so-salty salted caramel.
But it’s the wine you really want to try, particularly a light raspberry, bubbly Sangiovese; an edgy, chocolaty Barbera; and a rich, woodsy Syrah.
Nancy Greenfield was taking the tour with two friends from Tacoma and Gig Harbor, and loved the convenience. “I’ve driven to Yakima to do this, but it’s nice not to have to do that,” she said.
“It’s fun to learn about local winemakers and support their businesses,” added Krista Shulman.
And for beading fanatics, it’s a great opportunity to shop at the megastore Shipwreck Beads, with 28 aisles of jewelry and beading supplies.
Madsen Family Cellars
Where: 2825 Marvin Road N.E., Unit D, Lacey
Information: 360-438-1286, madsenfamilycellars.com
Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday
Specialty: Bordeaux-style reds, dessert wines
Also nearby: driving range and mini-golf
Madsen Family Cellars is fairly new to the business but already producing intriguing fruity flavors in the white and dessert wines offered in its cavernous, barrel-decorated warehouse tasting room. The Chardonnay is nicely light with pear notes; a Riesling has a heady nose but disappointing acidity; the Sweet Gertie blend offers an almost dessert-ish mixture of butter, caramel and cupcake; and the orange Muscat follows a heady floral aroma with a citrus/gardenia taste, rather like drinking in a warm Georgia evening.
The wines went well with the cheesecake slices offered, but also for sale (not tasting) were truffles from Blissful Wunders Chocolates in inventive flavors: smoked chipotle with orange and hazelnut, lavender mint, blueberry and sea salt, and one based on the winery’s orange Muscat.
Co-owner Dana Madsen also focuses on Bordeaux-style reds to occupy a different niche from Walter Dacon wines in Shelton.
For designated drivers, there’s finally something to do besides watch friends drink wine: A driving range and mini-golf course sit just opposite the winery.
Northwest Mountain Winery
Where: 2825 Marvin Road N.E., Unit Q, Lacey
Information: 360-464-7125, nwmountainwine.com
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Sunday
Specialty: meads, fruity and dessert reds
Also nearby: driving range and mini-golf
Ray and Kristi Curtis are known for their light, tangy meads (honey-based alcohol). For this weekend, they’re bringing out the reds in pretty robust flavors. Fruit, berry, caramel, chocolate – the dimly lit tasting room has the atmosphere of a comfortable campsite. In fact, that’s just what these wines were made for.
Horse Heaven Hills cabernet sauvignon is a rich blend; Dark Moon Rising cab-sav port is beautifully golden with a citrus edge; Dark Mountain Berry fuses tannic berry with a chocolaty aftertaste; and the blackberry wine is a semi-sweet dessert wine that goes perfectly with miniature s’mores offered on the tasting bar.
On the food bar are luscious and flaky French macaroons (chocolate-filled) and chocolate cake made by Olympia chef Gary Potter of Left Bank pastry. While the meads aren’t up for tasting this weekend, the jalapeno-flavored, fire-breathing mead is definitely worth purchasing a bottle.
Walter Dacon
Where: 50 S.E. Skookum Inlet Road, Shelton
Information: 360-426-5913, walterdaconwines.com
Hours: Noon-6 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday
Specialty: Rhone-style reds and dessert wines
Also nearby: Taylor’s Shellfish, Squaxin Island tribal museum and Little Creek Casino at the Highway 101 intersection
Walter Dacon is 20 minutes northwest of Olympia, but fans know it’s worth the trek down the well-signed little road. Since 2005, Ann and Lloyd Anderson have been offering up Rhone-style blends, and they’ve perfected what they do.
Of the five tasting wines this weekend, the stars are the Syrah beaux, with its big nose and citrus, vanilla and berry notes; the spicy, thinnish Syrah belle; the smoothly berry-and-caramel Syrah magnifique; and a bright, sugary dessert Syrah that goes perfectly with the chocolate fountain.
The butter-yellow bar is a nice place to hang around if you’re the driver, or you can enjoy the calm forest surroundings. And Taylor’s Shellfish can be found as you exit the highway if you want to pick up tasty dinner supplies.
Olympia Wine Bar (Vina Salida and McCrae Cellars)
Where: 116 Fifth Ave. S.E., Olympia
Information: 360-359-4288, mccraecellars.com
Hours: 1-6 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 1-4 p.m. Sundays
Specialty: Spanish-style reds and whites
Also nearby: Various restaurants, theaters and shops in downtown Olympia
It makes sense to have Olympia Wine Bar as your last stop on the South Sound Wine Trail. Apart from restaurants back at the unlovely Hawks Prairie I-5 intersection, eating places are few on this trail. It’s worth ending up in downtown Olympia, where you’ll have a good selection of eateries to soak up all that wine.
But first, enjoy the intimate yellow bar and spicy Spanish reds put out by McCrae Cellars under their two labels (the other is Vina Salida). While the cheese, crackers and Trader Joe’s chocolates are pretty perfunctory, you can’t help loving the subtle cherry nose and clean fruit finish of the Syrah, which owner Kim McCrae says is their best tipple. Also offered for tasting this weekend are a Tempranillo and Vino Rojo blend. If you still have a bit of time before dinner, you can check out the specialty boutiques in the sweet little indoor arcade that houses the wine bar.
“This tour is great,” said Genevieve O’Sullivan, who had chipped in with nine friends to rent a shuttle bus for the afternoon. “Supporting wineries is something we love to do, and supporting Thurston County wineries is awesome.”
Rosemary Ponnekanti: 253-597-8568, rosemary. ponnekanti@thenewstribune.com, blog.thenewstribune.com/arts
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