Jens and Karle Coppenrath, together with family and friends, planted 11 acres of European grapes (including newcomers Rondo, Ortega, Golubok and Muscat of Norway) on one of Port Townsend’s original homestead sites and former cattle ranch known as Portuguese Hill in 2015. “As we now prepare for our second harvest, we look forward to using the grapes for local production of still and sparkling wines,” says Karle.
The wine production facility and tasting room sit right off Highway 20 on the main approach into town, which opened for production for the 2016 harvest and to the public last June. If you miss the winery turn, keep going down to the waterfront where you’ll find their downtown tasting room. Both locations offer guided tastings, along with live music and other events.
The Coppenraths, longtime residents of Port Townsend, knew they wanted to keep things local, sustainable and economically fruitful. “It was our top priority to reinvest in Port Townsend, so we intentionally established our operations within city limits,” says Karle. “Our goal is to bolster the local economy by providing year-round employment, donating our space to local non-profit organizations, and collaborating with community members in our custom crush facility.”
Winemaker Ben Thomas worked in the Willamette Valley at Montinore Estate and at Port Townsend-based Eaglemount Wine and Cider prior to signing on. His crisp whites and fruity, no-oak reds have an Old World bent; lower alcohol and higher acidity levels make them tantalizingly food-friendly in a town well known for its purveyors of artisan cheese, bread, microbrews, meats and seafood.
The third and final phase of the Port Townsend Vineyards vision will be the restoration of the downtown historic C.F. Clapp building, scheduled to open in 2019, with the goal of providing a full wine immersion experience, from farm-to-table and vineyard-to-glass.
Visit the two current tasting rooms at either 2640 W Sims Way, Port Townsend or 215 Taylor St, Port Townsend; both open daily, check website for seasonal hours; www.porttownsendvineyards.com
Port Townsend Vineyards 2016 Columbia Valley Syrah, $27
Editor’s Choice – Excellent (88-90 pts.)
This lighter, fruit driven style displays floral notes of rose petal and violet that weave through fresh, juicy flavors of red cherry, blackberry and plum skin. Finishing dry, this is a versatile, food-friendly red wine.
Recommended: 2016 Columbia Valley Malbec
Port Townsend Vineyards 2016 Columbia Valley Malbec, $27
Editor’s Choice – Excellent (88-90 pts.)
Round and soft, with restrained blue and black fruit intermingled with nuances of earth, leather and floral notes, backed with a sheaf of nicely balanced acidity and powder fine tannins.