Eight artisan wineries will present pairings of wine or cider and chocolate this weekend and the next during the annual Olympic Peninsula Red Wine & Chocolate Tour.
Tickets for the self-guided tour 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and on Feb. 15-17 are available for $40 online or $45 at the door of each participating winery.
A commemorative wine glass, wine tasting and food pairings are included in the ticket price. Visitors without tour tickets will be charged a $10 tasting fee at each venue.
Participating venues are:
• Harbinger Winery, 2358 U.S. Highway 101 W., Port Angeles.
White chocolate and apple bread pudding will be paired with a crisp La Petite Fleur, while bite-sized “pan au chocolates” (think buttery croissants filled with a tube of dark chocolate) are paired with Dynamo Red. Devil’s food dark chocolate mini-cupcakes will be paired with the newly released 2014 Bolero.
Harbinger will again feature the reserve wine and Theo Chocolate’s pairing behind the velvet curtain of the VIP room.
• Camaraderie Cellars, 334 Benson Road, Port Angeles.
The 2014 Sangiovese will be paired with a trail mix of nuts, dried berries and dark chocolate. The 2012 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon will enhance Rocky Road brownie bites. Cocoa-Spiced Pulled Pork will be paired with a newly released 2016 Cabernet Franc.
• Olympic Cellars, 255410 U.S. Highway 101, Port Angeles.
Housed in a historic dairy barn just off U.S. Highway 101 between Port Angeles and Sequim, this winery will host We Do Fudge of Sequim to pair with a selection of wines including the 2018 Dungeness Rosé, the 2016 Petite Syrah and other varietals and blends.
• Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W. Washington St., Sequim.
Local chocolatier Yvonne Yakota of Yvonne’s Chocolates will be on hand both tour weekends to offer a variety of chocolate samples that pair with WindRose’s Italian-style wines, including the 2015 Dolcetto, the 2014 Bravo Rosso and other reds, as well as some white wines.
Live music is planned from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. tonight and Saturday night, as well the following weekend. Reservations are recommended by calling 360-681-0690.
• FairWinds Winery, 1984 Hastings Ave. W., Port Townsend.
The winery features a chocolate fountain. Guests also can play games to win discounts and take photos in FairWinds‘s pirate boat.
• Port Townsend Vineyards, 2640 W. Sims Way, Port Townsend.
Guests will sample a 2018 Merlot.
• Eaglemount Wine & Cider, 1893 S. Jacob Miller Road, Port Townsend.
The winery will host Chocolate Serenade and feature new release ciders and wines for pairing with chocolates and caramels.
• Marrowstone Vineyards, 423 Meade Road, Nordland.
Amy’s Decadent Chocolates will be paired with a variety of red wines or the winery’s first-ever port.
For more information, visit www.olympicpeninsulawineries.org.
