Wine on the Islands

Frank Rayler, owner of Greenbank Cellars, inspects some of the vines in his 2 acre vineyard. © 2008 Russell Sparkman

Washington State has become internationally known for award-winning wines. Its combination of soil, climate and geography (or terroir as the oenophiles call it) has made it the second largest premium wine producer in the United States. Read a recent article about new wineries, totalling 7, and the formation of Whidbey Island Vinthers in Northwest Business Monthly. Learn more.

Whidbey Island boasts seven artisan wineries: Greenbank Cellars, in Greenbank; Blooms , in Freeland; and Whidbey Island Winery, in Langley. All are locally owned and operated.

Greenbank Cellars opened its doors in 1998. Owner Frank Rayle had the barn, had the land, and said to himself, "Sounds like a good thing!"

Rayle's sense of humor shows through in his family operation. A sign that reads The Grapes of Rayle hangs on the wall outside the renovated, century-old monitor-style barn.

Frank Rayle, Vintner at Greenbank Cellars, pours a glass of Madeline Agevine, a varietal grown on his property. © 2008 Russell Sparkman

The majority of his grapes come from Prosser (Washington) and varieties include Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Chenin Blanc. He also has three acres of his own grapes, including Siegerrebe, Madeleine Angevine and Madeleine Sylvaner.

Greenbank Cellar's white wines are made in the Alsatian style (dry, fresh and crisp, with citric flavors and no oak) while the unfiltered reds are two-year barrel-aged in French and Hungarian oak. Total production is around 1,000 cases per year.

The winery is a family affair. Frank's wife Betty, an artist, has a gallery adjacent to the winery, and her painting of the barn is on Greenbank Cellars' wine labels.

Visitors can picnic outside on tables or in the vineyard itself. Rayle has provided large "sit upon" rocks for folks who want to be one with the wine.

Whidbey Island Wines owner Greg Osenbach enters the Whidbey Island Winery through an ornate wrought iron gate. © 2008 Russell Sparkman

Greg and Elizabeth Osenbach of Whidbey Island Winery planted their first grapes in 1986 and opened their winery six years later.

Their two-acre vineyard, located just outside Langley, has 2,000 vines. Each vine was planted individually, and the trellis posts were all set by hand, too.

The vines started producing in 1988, and the first crush was three years later. Relatives and friends helped pick the grapes and it turned into an all-day party, one that's become an island tradition during the three annual harvests.

"We pick from 8-12 and then have a big lunch," said Elizabeth.

Since they started, production has grown from 400 cases a year to 3,500! The island grapes make up 45 percent of their production.

Greg Osenbach pours a taste of viognier. © 2008 Russell Sparkman

Their reds include Lemberger, Merlot and Sangiovese. Among the whites are Madeleine Angevine, Island White and Siegerrebe.

And if the woman on the white wine label looks familiar, it's Elizabeth Osenbach, as portrayed by island artist Anne Belov.

Blooms, a winery in Freeland, has been producing wine for family use since 1998. With the encouragement of family and friends, winemaker Ken Bloom pursued the idea of becoming a commercial winery. Five years later, Blooms became a licensed winery.

Today, Ken and Virginia Bloom produce less than 500 cases a year. Their wines are available through Blooms, at local wine shops, and also at selected restaurants on the island.

Volunteers are the heart of the winery, and friends and family sign up to do everything from crushing to bottling. It's all about "working for wine."

Some of the grapes are grown at Bloom Vineyards in Hopland, California and brought to Whidbey where they're made into Bloom's signature wine, Bloom Vineyards Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Other labels include Pinot Gris, from Oregon's Willamette Valley; Washington State Semillon; Melange, a red table wine; and Ambrosia, a rhubarb wine.

Blooms hosts private wine tasting parties throughout the year!

Whidbey & Camano Island Vintners – Currently Open

Blooms Winery
Ken and Virginia Bloom, Owners and Winemakers
5302 S. East Harbor Road
Freeland, WA 360-331-4084
Website Blooms Winery
(Award-winning wines available by appointment or at wine shops)

Fishtalk Vineyard
David Schaal, Winemaker
5071 S. Bercot Road
Freeland, WA 360-331-5335
Website Fishtalk Vineyard
(wines currently available at Greenbank Farm Wine Shop and other wine shops)

Greenbank Cellars
Frank and Betty Rayle, Owners
Winemaker: David Moore
3112 Day Road
Greenbank, WA 360-678-3964
Website Greenbank Cellars
Wine tasting: Thursday – Monday, 11 AM to 5 PM, or by appointment

Holmes Harbor Cellars
Greg and Theresa Martinez, Owners and Winemakers
4591 So. Honeymoon Bay Road
Greenbank, WA 360-331-3544
Website Holmes Harbor Cellars
Wine tasting, 11 AM to 5 PM, weekends, or by appointment

Whidbey Island Vineyards and Winery
Greg and Elizabeth Osenbach, Owners
Winemaker: Greg Osenbach; Assistant Winemaker: Leah Waaramaki
5237 So. Langley Road,
Langley, WA 360-221-2040
Wine tasting: tasting room hours:
Winter 11 - 5 closed Mon. & Tues
Summer 11 - 5 closed Tues.
Special Event Days 10 - 5 (includes Red Wine & Chocolate)
Website Whidbey Island Vineyards and Winery
Whidbey Island Vintners – Opening later this year

Swede Hill Cellars
Eric Murphy and David Ott, Owners
Eric Murphy, Winemaker
Swede Hill Road
Clinton, WA 206-200-1728
Website Swede Hill Cellars
(winery and wine tasting will open in the summer)

Spoiled Dog Winery
Karen and Jack Krug, Owners and Winemakers
5881 Maxwelton Road
Langley, WA 360-321-6226
(only selling estate bottled pinot noir, available this summer)

Dusty Cellars Winery on Camano Island
529 Michael Way
Camano Island, WA 98282
Website Dusty Cellars Winery, Camano
360-387-2171

Wine Shops Offering Tastings

2nd Street Wine Shop & Tasting Room
Laurel and Mike Davis, Linda and Greg Shafer, Owners
221 – 2nd Street, Suite 2A
Langley, WA 360-221-3121
Hours: Six days a week, 10 AM to 7 PM; (except for the month of January)
Tasting whenever the shop is open; closed on Tuesdays

Vino Amore
Brian Plebanek and Gail Liston, Owners
1614 East Main Street
Freeland, WA 360-331-7661
Website Vino Amore
Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 11 AM to 6 PM, Saturday, 11 AM to 7 PM and Sunday, noon to 5 PM; wine tasting on Saturday only from noon to 6 PM

Greenbank Farm Wine Shop and Tasting Room
Art Herrera, Wine Shop Manager
765 Wonn Road
Greenbank, WA 360-678-7700

Website Greenbank Farm Wine Shop/ Tasting Room
Hours: Fall and winter, 11 AM to 4 PM, weekends, 10 AM to 5 PM
Spring and summer, 10 AM to 5 PM; weekends 9 AM to 5 PM
Tasting anytime the shop is open

bayleaf
Beth Graves
101 NW Coveland
Coupeville WA 98239
360-678-6603
Website bayleaf
720 SE Pioneer Way Suite 1-b
Oak Harbor, WA 98277
360-675-6600

Large Whidbey & Camano Islands Map - 262.9KB This is the large green and white map with streets.

The Red Wine and Chocolate Tour compiled by Carolyn Tamler

On February 14, 15 and 16, Whidbey Island held its own Red Wine and Chocolate Tour, separating from the North Puget Sound Winery Tour which they have been a part for several years. The Tour was a great way to celebrate the President's Day Weekend, as well as Valentine's Day and it was a huge success.

Five wineries offered tastings, some at their wineries and others at the Greenbank Bank Farm Wine Shop and Tasting Room. The tour was $20 per person and included a special tasting glass, an invitation to sample red wines featured by each of the vinters and delicious chocolate treats and desserts made on Whidbey Island.

With the wineries spread out between Clinton and Langley and running north through Freeland to Greenbank, visitors could enjoy the many beautiful views and parklands of south and central Whidbey Island as they drove to the wineries. Many spent time checking out the shops in Langley or drove 15 minutes north of the Greenbank Farm and explored the charming town of Coupeville.

Whidbey Island is a great place for a weekend getaway, as well. In addition to the wineries and wine tasting, there are excellent bed and breakfasts, restaurants and many hiking and touring areas between the Clinton Ferry Terminal and Deception Pass at the north end of the island. Information about what to see, where to eat and where to stay on Whidbey can be found at www.whidbeycamanoislands.com.

And, the members of Whidbey Island Vinters hope that more and more tourists will discover the newest wine destination in Washington State throughout the year.

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Whidbey and Camano Islands are only 25 miles north of Seattle, and 2 hours south of Vancouver. See Directions and Maps to learn more about how to get here.