What better way to spend an afternoon than sipping a cold beverage and soaking in the island views? The gourmet archipelago has become a tasting paradise, with wine, beer, and spirits crafted right here. Visit the vibrant collection of wineries, breweries, and distilleries that offer a wide range of delicious, locally made pours. Explore the spots listed below and add them to your island itinerary.
109 North Beach Rd., Eastsound ; 360-376-7467
Doe Bay Wine Company owners Cole and Stephanie Sisson bring a world of experience to their tiny Eastsound wine shop. Cole grew up on Orcas, and left to explore the world of wine; he has worked as a sommelier at several top restaurants including RN74 Seattle and Michael Mina at the Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas. Stephanie is a New Jersey native, previously working in importing and distribution with a focus on wine training and wine education. Together, they love to share their passion for wine with locals and visitors alike, creating tasting events, wine happy hours, wine dinners and other fun events.
Cole and Stephanie's label, "The Orcas Project" is a collaboration between acclaimed winemakers and vineyards in the Pacific Northwest, featuring labels designed by Orcas Island artists. These wines are limited in production and available at the Doe Bay Wine Company bottleshop in Eastsound.
PO Box 1921, Eastsound ; 520-991-9291
Established in 2011, as the first and only winery on Orcas Island, this boutique family vineyard and winery is committed to crafting premium Washington state wines. Born from a family dream, a deep rooted love for the island, and the desire to craft exceptional wines, this beautiful winery serves as a place of fellowship, art, music, and creative passion. As of early 2019, it is owned and operated by Wesley and Tera Landman, who invite you to enjoy the sprawling grounds, breathtaking views, cozy tasting room, and local wines. Nestled at the base of the inspiring Turtleback Mountain, the modern farmhouse winery tasting room, wine bar & shop offers both red and white varietals by an award-winning Washington state winemaker.
Westcott Bay Cider and San Juan Island Distillery
12 Anderson Lane, Friday Harbor ; (360) 378-2606
A trip to the San Juan Distillery tasting room is a gustatory adventure into the world of island botanicals. In addition to traditional aromatics such as juniper berries, lemon, star anise, cardamom and orris root, distiller Suzy Pingree and co-owner and ‘berry picker’ Hawk Pingree scour the islands for aromatic plants and luscious fruits, including madrone bark and blossoms, blackberries, Nootka rose petals, thimbleberries, salal berries, snowberries, nettle, lavender, nasturtium blossoms, and various beach plants and seaweeds to create spirits that truly reflect the island landscape. Their select gins are made with a distillation of Washington apples; the basic gins are made from grain alcohol. While all the spirits are exciting and creative, the truly special bottles are the Calvados-like, oak-aged apple brandy and the Pommeau, a cider-based aperitif made with fresh apple juice, a splash of Apple Eau de Vie, then aged in oak barrels.
Although the distillery may be the new kid on the block, Westcott Bay Cider is better than ever, with three ciders very close in style to French or English dry ciders, including the Traditional Very Dry, Traditional Dry, and Traditional Medium Sweet. The fruit comes from mid-1900s replantings of an original 1890s orchards, with the first cider produced in 1999.
40 First Street, Friday Harbor, only two blocks from the ferry landing.
Madrone Cellars & Cider is proud to offer a selection of island-crafted wines and sparkling ciders. Terroir, which is a sense of place reflected through taste, textures, and aromas, is the inspiration for Madrone's wines and ciders. Owners Amy & Shaun Salamida focus on natural winemaking styles, which include spontaneous fermentations, zero filtration, minimal intervention, and much more. Their products contain zero residual sugar. Residual sugar is biologically unstable and requires chemicals or sterilization to produce a sweet wine that will not re-ferment. Natural wine ferments all the way dry and achieves balance through rest and age. Visit their Wine & Cider Bar in downtown Friday Harbor, open Friday - Sunday from 1-6pm.
3136 Roche Harbor Rd., Friday Harbor ; (360) 378-9463
San Juan Vineyards is one of the most picturesque vineyards in the state, overlooking a historic schoolhouse-turned winery, and a beautiful chapel near the vineyard. The 20+-acre site, new owners Michael and Lauri Corliss, who own Corliss Estates in Walla Walla, grow classic island grapes—Siegerrebe and Madeline Angevine—and also create reds from Eastern Washington fruit. Over the years, SJV has developed a much simpler style, trying to show the fruit—whether from the estate or from respected vineyards in Yakima or Walla Walla Valley—with low use of oak, and little manipulation. The Corlisses are renovating the 100-year-old schoolhouse that acts as their tasting room, and it will be interesting to see what their experience brings to the San Juan Islands wine scene.
410 A Street, Friday Harbor ; 360-378-2017
Just a few blocks from the Friday Harbor ferry landing, the new San Juan Brewing Co. is the largest brewery in the islands. Take a group for lunch, and you all can tuck into a pizza or burgers around patio tables in the sun, or in the cool rustic-modern restaurant, with a view of the brewing tanks. The beers are named after places in San Juan Island history, such as Quarry No. 9 Pale Ale, a "gently sweet" golden ale named after a local swimming hole in one of the island's historic limestone quarries. The lineup changes seasonally, from light lagers to robust porters and stouts, so there's always something new to try.
Specializing in locally produced, low-intervention sparkling wine, Archipelago Beverage Co. provides exceptional small-group and private wine tastings at your venue or theirs. Book Archipelago Beverage Co. for your welcome events, happy hours, bridal parties, pre-wedding events, etc. Archipelago Beverage Co. strives to produce wines that are inspired by this region and accentuate the experience of the San Juan Islands, its relaxed lifestyle, fresh air and fine local food. Every wine they produce is hand-crafted with intention. Their specialty is sparkling wine, made in the petillant-naturel style with as little intervention as possible. Every bottle finishes fermentation independently and becomes its own experience.
1 Front Street, Friday Harbor
Steps from the ferry... Friday Harbor Skybar is a rooftop WINE bar featuring diverse wine selections from Washington and around the world; by the glass, flite, or bottle, with magnificent views of the water, ferries, seaplanes, marina, and eagle fly-bys. Picture perfect! Enjoy light bites or snacks to pair with your tastings.
Lopez Island Vineyard & Winery
724 Fisherman Bay Rd., Lopez Island
For years, Brent Charnley, owner/winemaker for Lopez Island Vineyards, was a lone island winegrower, farming organically and making varietal wines from obscure grapes no one knew how to pronounce. Fast forward 20-something years. Charnley may still be a loner and a pioneer, but his wines have found many fans over the years—and many awards. Two big hits are his estate grown wines: Madeleine Angevine—a white Loire Valley grape, and Siegerrebe (or “victory vine” in German)—an aromatic cross of Gewurztraminer and Madeleine Angevine. The Mad Angie, as he calls it, ferments into a dry, crisp white similar to Pinot Blanc, and a lovely food wine. The 2013 Siegerrebe, a floral-spiced, just off-dry stunner of a wine, won a coveted 2nd place in the Sip Northwest Wine Awards. Both are in much demand at restaurants who boast island-centric menus, served with fresh Buck Bay oysters on the half-shell, or fresh Dungeness crab or locally caught salmon. Lopez Vineyards Pinot Noir—if you can find it—is one of the best Washington Pinots available—rich with lovely red fruit, yet austere with minerality and good acidity—we hope Charnley produces more from his small vineyard in the future.
