Passport Wine Tour
Visitors who step through the brand new copper barn doors at Olympic Cellars will find themselves in the midst of a German end-of-harvest celebration during the Passport Wine Tour , set to take place November 8-9 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Lemberger and Riesling varietal wines will take center stage at this lively event, paired with traditional Flammkuchen and live Bavarian-style accordion music. The tour, an annual event hosted by the Olympic Peninsula Wineries, takes on an international theme this year, highlighting some of Europe’s finest wine growing regions.
“We’re looking forward to showcasing Washington’s heritage Lemberger grape, which originated in vineyards on the lower stretches of the Danube River,” says Olympic Cellars Owner Kathy Charlton, “as well as the better-known Riesling grape, which is also indigenous to Germany. Our Dungeness Red Lemberger wine, originally made by Olympic Cellars’ founder Gene Neuharth in 1979, has been an award-winning best seller for three decades, and our Working Girl® series features a Lemberger Rosé. Riesling is one of the first grape varieties grown in Washington, and the popularity of this varietal is skyrocketing. The rest of our award-winning wines will also be available for tasting.”
The cold hardy Lemberger grape came to Washington via Canada in the 1940s and thrives in vineyards east of the Cascades. A deep red color in the glass, Lemberger wines are similar to Pinot Noir in style, medium-bodied with bright fruit and soft tannins. A name that calls to mind a stinky cheese, however, has created a lot of skeptics over the years. Fortunately, the grape has a number of champions in the industry who, like Charlton, are working hard to change its image.
Blending Charlton’s German heritage with the French heritage of winemaker Benoit Murat, Olympic Cellars will pair its Lemberger and Riesling wines with one of the most famous gastronomical specialties of the Alsace region. Known as Tarte Flambée in French and Flammkuchen in German, the dish consists of a thin bread dough covered with fresh crème fraîche , onions and bacon, and eaten warm. Joy’s Wine Bistro of Port Angeles will cater the event.
Hot mulled wine will also be served, and Charlton invites visitors sit down, sip slowly and enjoy a taste of Germany.
Optional “Passports” for the tour are available online or at any of the Olympic Peninsula Wineries for $25.00, and entitle the holder to a special commemorative wine glass and complimentary tastings at all seven venues. Tasting fees for visitors without Passports will be $5.00 per person, per winery. Visit www.olympicpeninsulawineries.org or call 800-785-5495 for further information.
