Wine Tasting at San Juan Vineyard

By: Julie Blakley | August 10 2010
Posted in Seattle - Find It - Seattle

One of the perks of living in the Northwest, in addition to an abundance of great, local produce and ingredients, is easy access to one of the country’s best wine-producing regions. This has allowed me to sample wines from Oregon and Washington wine country, and has forever made me a Pinot noir lover.

Photo: Julie Blakley

During a recent trip to the San Juan Islands in Washington state, I had the opportunity to sample wines from yet another Northwest vineyard at San Juan Vineyard and Cellars on Roche Harbor Road on San Juan Island.

Tasting at San Juan Vineyard

Set on the beautiful and pastoral San Juan Island, the San Juan Vineyard's white chapel looked postcard perfect the day I went tasting--the whitewashed walls standing out against the day's blue skies and the green vines growing on hillsides. 

The winery’s tasting room is located in a restored schoolhouse that was built in 1896, exactly 100 years before the San Juan Vineyards and winery were established by Tim Judkins and the late Steve Swanberg.

Photo: Julie Blakley

The tasting room has a rich, historic feel and casual ambiance. On the day I visited, we chatted and tasted wine with one other couple, who had popped by on a whim.

The winery sells many bottles priced around $20, and tasting is $1 per taste (on the honor system), making it an affordable way to spend part of an afternoon and come home with some souvenirs or gifts.

Due to the coastal location of the seven-acre estate vineyard, Madeleine Angevine, Siegerrebe, and Pinot noir are the only grapes grown there. For the rest of its wines, the winery sources fruit from vineyards in eastern Washington.

The Madeleine Angevine and the Siegerrebe, which are made from estate fruit, are the signature wines for the winery. They account for thirty percent of San Juan Vineyards’ overall production, and as described below were both very tasty.

Winemaker Chris Primus, who joined the winery in 2006, previously worked in the wine industry in Oregon, including stints at Maysara and J Christopher Wines.

Photo: Julie Blakley

The Wine:

2008 Siegerrebe, San Juan Vineyards This wine was full of minerals, showing well-balanced acids. Siegerrebe is a German and Austrian varietal grown where temperatures are cooler, such as the Puget Sound. I think it would taste great with many cheeses.

2008 Madeleing Angevine, San Juan Vineyards Another Northern European varietal grown where temperatures are cooler, this wine had hints of grapefruit, minerals and acid that were long lasting. It would taste great with some of the buttery local shellfish and seafood.

San Juan Vineyards Cabernet Franc Horse Heaven Hills 2007 This was the one wine I tried that did not come from estate grapes. It was a bold, rich red, with hints of toasted oak spices, pepper, cherries and chocolate.

Visiting San Juan Vineyards:

Park between the Chapel and the Tasting Room.

The Tasting Room hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, depending on the season.

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