Red Wine and Chocolate
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Red Wine and Chocolate:
Olympic Peninsula Winery Tour
February 11, 12 and 18, 19, and 20, 2012
The Olympic Peninsula Wineries are taking the quintessential pairing of red wine & chocolate to new heights this year, featuring a host of never imagined sweet and savory combinations during the annual Red Wine & Chocolate Tour, Feb. 11-12 and Feb. 18-20 (Presidents’ Day Weekend) from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. “Nothing is more delicious than a good red wine and the right chocolate shared amid the beauty of the North Olympic Peninsula,” says Association President Vicki Corson. “We decided to shake things up a bit this year with some new combinations that our guests may not have experienced – or even thought about – and we believe they will be pleasantly surprised! The wineries would like to extend a special invitation to anyone who has not participated in our Red Wine & Chocolate tour in the past to come out and join us for a perfect Valentine’s or Presidents’ Weekend getaway! Participants who visit all eight of our wineries will be entered into a drawing for an elegant wine-themed gift basket.”
Tickets may be purchased online or at participating wineries during the event. The $30 ticket and glass package entitles you to a special commemorative wine glass, complimentary wine tasting and delectable samples of chocolate at each winery during the Red Wine & Chocolate Weekends. This event does not take place at one location. You travel from winery to winery, visiting the ones you are interested in exploring. Tickets are not required to attend this event. A $5.00 wine tasting fee will be charged at each winery for non-ticketed visitors. You must be 21 or over to purchase tickets and/or participate in wine tasting. All ticket sales are non-refundable.
The Olympic Peninsula Wineries encourage responsible wine touring and recommend that you have a designated driver in your group. Designated Drivers are invited to enjoy the food at each winery.
Individual Winery Events
Wind Rose Cellars:
Making its Red Wine & Chocolate tour debut, Wind Rose Cellars of Sequim will feature its newly released 2010 Dolcetto, along with the 2009 vintages of Bravo Rosso, Barbera and Nebbiolo. Wind Rose’s wines are made with Italian grape varieties grown in Washington State. These award-winning wines will be paired with delicious chocolates crafted by Linda Moates of Sequim’s Cocoa d’Amici. Chocolates samples will include Hazel Nut Crunch, Pistachio Fig, Ginger Cinnamon and more. Linda will be on site discussing her chocolate creations and techniques.
Eaglmount Wine & Cider:
Eaglmount’s new releases will include a red wine, a cider and a mead. Jim Queen from Chocolate Serenade will be on site with handcrafted chocolates for pairing.
Black Diamond Winery:
Black Diamond Winery will be pouring Syrah along with its raspberry, loganberry and strawberry wines paired with chocolate truffles.
Finnriver Farm & Cidery:
Finnriver welcomes Red Wine & Chocolate guests to sample its sweet brandy dessert wines, including the newly released Raspberry Wine, paired with chocolate-covered berries. Then bite into an outrageous chocolate brownie paired with a sparkling sip of black currant and pear cider cocktails. For an extra treat, purchase a token to enter the Chocolate Chamber for an exquisite cup of "BLISS" Chocolate Elixir, a creamy gourmet sipping chocolate, with aromas of burnt sugar custard, brown sugar, and caramel, carefully crafted by Jennifer Michele Chocolat in Port Townsend. For some hands-on fun, all visitors are invited to "put their love on the line" by tying a valentine ribbon on a cooperative art project.
FairWinds Winery:
FairWinds' will release the latest vintages of its Gewürztraminer, Port O’ Call and Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend. Guests will experience the tallest chocolate fountain on the Peninsula – back by popular demand -- with a delicious assortment of fruits and sweets to dip in the rich dark chocolate. Tours of the winery and its operations will be available, with occasional barrel tastings.
Camaraderie Cellars:
Camaraderie Cellars will once again pair Syrah with its signature cocoa spice-rubbed pulled pork cooked in its wood-fired oven. The winery will debut the 2009 Syrah along with some great red blends and the ever popular Cabernet and Merlot varietals. Celebrating its 20th year, Camaraderie will feature tried and true chocolate favorites—Molly Baby chocolate shortbread cookies, Equal Exchange Fair Trade chocolate bars, and a savory chocolate bruschetta. Special pricing for the event weekends will help you stock your red wine supply.
Harbinger Winery:
So you think that you’ve tasted everything that has to do with Red Wine & Chocolate? Harbinger Winery has teamed up with local baking celebrity Karen Abbott of Wicked Little Sweets to create a seductive array of original wine and chocolate pairings that would impress St. Valentine himself! Mount Olympus Black Truffles infused with Dynamo Red and Dark Side of the Moon Pies with Raspberry Bliss filling are but a two of the culinary delights to be discovered.
Winemaker Sarah Gagnon will release her 2009 Bolero during the Red Wine & Chocolate event, a dangerously alluring Spanish blend of Tempranillo and Grenache that holds the record for Harbinger’s fastest-selling red wine to date!
Bar Hop Brewing has whipped up a batch of its seasonal specialty, Venezuelan Chocolate Porter, a limited edition beer that will only be available throughout the weeks of the festival at the Harbinger and Bar Hop tasting rooms.
Harbinger will be hosting elevated Aphrodisiac Chocolate tastings in the Kitty Kat Lounge. This is a limited tasting and reservations are recommended. Theo’s seasonal confections and caramels will be matched with a reserve panel of exceptional wines. A Chocolate Ambassador from Theos Chocolates will be on February 11th to talk about the chocolate-making process, hand out samples and answer questions.
Olympic Cellars:
love Love LOVE Red Wine... When you think about this annual event, Red Wine & Chocolate, we use the word "love" in every sentence as we describe it... love red wine, love decadent chocolate, love going to different wineries, love the people you're with, love the Peninsula in February, love Valentine’s Day! Olympic Cellars will transport visitors on the wings of all this love to one of the most romantic cities in the world – Paris! Step through our cellar doors and hear French music playing; see an artist sketching on a “sidewalk” in front of a bustling café with the smell of warm pain au chocolat and coffee in the air. Have your photo taken by French photographer Phil Tauran in Le Petit Studio. And of course, taste our red – and white – wines paired with a variety of delicious chocolates, including a special Ganache style chocolate infused with Cabernet Sauvignon, handcrafted by local chocolatier Yvonne Yakota. Wine specials throughout both event weekends.
Super special rates on a great big Fort Worden State Park four bedroom Officer Row accommodations will save you plenty for those Valentine wine, chocolates and roses.
We’ll even get you started with a complementary Duraflame log for the Officer Row fireplace! Enjoy all of Port Townsend’s coolness while loving a spontaneous getaway to Fort Worden !
Rate includes daily Continental breakfast for each registered guest. Rate valid only on new bookings. Two night minimum stay required. Valid Dates Feb. 9th - 15th. Space limited to availability. Grab your sweetheart and make it a date to enjoy Fort Worden! Book dates today!
Please Note:
Due to the limited facilities at our small wineries, groups of more than 15 cannot be accommodated during event weekends.
Please call 1-800-785-5495 to schedule a special group tour for another time.
The Olympic Peninsula Wineries encourage responsible wine touring and recommend that you have a designated driver in your group.