Five women celebrated the best of wine and chocolate on the North Olympic Peninsula in style, riding from winery to winery in a white limousine.
Three sisters and two of their friends decided Valentine’s Day shouldn’t just be for lovers — celebrating with friends should be top priority.
The five women have different levels of commitment with men — one widowed, one married, one attached and two in an undefined status — but the day was all about having fun with friends and family for them.
“We thought we would go out with the girls and have fun — we can deal with the men later,” said Laura Kussin, who is married.
The idea was the brainchild of Lori Brothers, who summoned her sisters Lisa and Tami along with her boss, Deb West, and Kussin.
“I wanted to have something to do with the girls and this seemed like a great thing,” she said.
“We are having an absolutely great time.”
The group decided to rent a white limo from Sequim Livery to take them from place to place.
“Not only is it a lot of fun, but then we don’t have to worry about drinking and driving and all that,” Lori Brothers said.
Added West: “It is certainly cheaper than a DUI, and some of these girls don’t drink wine very much so it sure won’t take a lot to get them tipsy.”
Each woman pitched in $40, and Lori covered any extra expenses of the limo.
Lori said she invited her sisters and West so they could have someone to spend time with on Valentine’s Day and Kussin because she had not had a chance to have much “girl time” as a stay-at-home mom who is also having a house built.
“It is just a really fun thing for all of us to do together,” she said.
The annual Red Wine and Chocolate Tour explores six Peninsula wineries and will continue today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at any of the participating wineries.
A ticket entitles the buyer to a commemorative wine glass, wine tasting and a sample of chocolate at each winery.
Each winery will charge nonticketed guests a $5 wine-tasting fee.
Attendees who have their tickets stamped at all six wineries will be eligible to enter a gift basket drawing.
While children are allowed in the tasting rooms, you must be 21 or older to purchase tickets and/or participate in wine tasting.
Participating wineries are:
• Black Diamond Winery , 2976 Black Diamond Road, Port Angeles.
• Camaraderie Cellars , 334 Benson Road, Port Angeles.
• Harbinger Winery , 2358 U.S. Highway 101, Port Angeles.
• Fair Winds Winery , 1984 W. Hastings Ave., Port Townsend.
• Olympic Cellars , 255410 U.S. Highway 101, between Port Angeles and Sequim.
• Sorensen Cellars , 274 Otto St., Port Townsend.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
