By Julie MacIntire Corey, author and Journal contributeor
Distilleries have had a long history with San Juan Island. The early farmers were excellent growers. For this harvest season, here is a snaphot of those on San Juan carrying on the tratdition.
Apples were an abundant harvest and made great Hard Apple Cider. To this day, hard cider is a trendy beverage on the island. The current distilleries available in San Juan Island have a wide variety of extraordinary beverages. Madrona Murphy, a botanist with a local nonprofit Island Grown, said ‘“Island Apples are long-lived and well adapted to our maritime climate, and many of the orchard trees planted in the islands in the 1860s to early 1900s are still standing and still productive.”. In the spirit of Savor the San Juans, here is a brief collection of our current island distilleries.
San Juan Island Distillery is owned and operated by three locals who have won several awards for their small-batch ciders and spirits. The Priemun award-winning Apple Brandy is just one of the delicious liqueurs and flavored brandies produced on the island. Fifty gallons of Wescott Bay Cider are poured into a glorious all-hammered 50-gallon copper pot. It then matures in 59-gallon French LIMOUSIN oak barrels. The distillery believes in traditions and has started some excellent ones here on the island.
For more information, visit sanjuanislanddistillery.com.
San Juan Cellars is a unique wine business in Friday Harbor. It started on a corner in 1987 and has been a waterfront icon since then. Owners Kathryn and David have an extensive wine list, including their San Juan Cellars Wines. Kathryn said,” We have a large selection of wine gadgets and gifts…and a wicked sense of humor!” visit 2 Cannery Landing in Friday Harbor for more information.
The San Juan Vineyard winery produces award-winning estate-grown wines and has been owned by the Corliss Family since 2018. When asked three questions, the family was happy to share their answers.
Q: How does your business Savor the San Juan Islands?
A: “We make our estate wines available at our tasting room and at stores all around San Juan Island so that it is convenient for people to find them and try a taste of the island. For us, savoring the San Juans is all about enjoying a glass of our estate wine and a local seafood dinner while watching the sunset from the boat.”
Q: What is your favorite part of owning your island business?
A: “We love bringing people together, and our Summer Music Series has been great for that. From Memorial Day through September, bands from all over the PNW play at our tasting room every Saturday evening. We’ve had a wonderful time hosting both locals and visitors alike.”
Q: What is your best-selling drink?
A: “Our estate white wines, Madeleine Angevine and Siegerrebe, are both popular. They’re grown right outside the door from our tasting room on San Juan Island. Drinking the wines at the same spot they were grown creates a real sense of place. That’s very special to us.”
The tasting room is in the 1895 remodeled schoolhouse. It is a beautiful place to enjoy the island wine experience.
For more inforamation visit INFO@SANJUANVINEYARD.COM
Archipelago Winery offers wines that are unlike any you might have had. They are made from lesser-known varieties and use revivalist production methods to achieve balance, intrigue, and distinction. For more information, bisit 818 Mullis Street, Suite 7 in Friday Harbor.
Madrone Cellars & Cider owners Shaun and Amy Salamida are locals making their dreams come true. They offer natural processed organic wine and cider. With over a decade of experience and a passion for the islands’ way of life, they support local farmers in buying local apples and pears for their cider.
For more information visit info@madronecellars.com
Strata Varia is a new winery on the scene. Owner Brent Roberts gave this update, “Strata Varia will be unique in its exclusive focus on single vineyard, Rhone-varietal wines. The inaugural wines are on track to start hitting shelves as early as March of next year with a tasting room currently under consideration. The first reds lean heavily on Walla Walla Valley fruit sources from my time as winemaker for Zerba Cellars. Expect to see a Syrah sourced from the famed Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, as well as Grenache and Mourvedre. Picpoul and Roussanne, more interesting alternatives to Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, respectively, will make up the white portfolio. We look forward to sharing these wines with you.”
For more information email brent at brent@stratavariawine.com or visit stratavariawine.com social media: facebook.com/stratavaria
The San Juans have always had a bountiful harvest, as can been seen by the many other wineries, distilleries and beer makers on San Juan and through out the islands. Learn more about Savor on page 3, and don’t forget to support all the local growers and harvesters this fall.
https://www.sanjuanvineyard.com
https://islandgrownsj.comThe San Juan Islands are a living museum of historic American apple varieties by Madrona Murphy, Kwiaht non-profit.
https://www.madronecellars.com/about
https://sanjuancellars.com
