Vashon Winery [August 2019]

Welcome back to Vashon Vashon-Maury Island!! I thought it would only be fitting, since we were exploring Vashon Island, that we stopped by Vashon Winery!! I cannot remember for sure if this is the place that when I put the address in the GPS, it took us on a two-track grassy road out into the middle of the woods and then said… “you have arrived” or not. [a little bit creepy!! Hahahaha] Just the same, when we pulled into the actual little and extremely remote parking area by a deserted looking barn, I am sorry to say it, but I almost got the same feeling.

When I look back at some of the places I have gone in the name of wine tasting… I wonder at my blind trust!! Let me just say that I was glad Katie was with me while I was making the rounds to these island wineries!! [You know that whole safety in numbers thing... LOL] The place is certainly out in the middle of nowhere and it appears to be kind of deserted, but the doors were open and we were here so... into the barn we go!! [together… haha] I have since learned that this place is known as a small “garagiste” or a very small winery with limited production. Production so limited that it could be done in someone’s garage. Cute, right!?

So here we are walking/looking around the small space after we entered into the barn. It seemed like it was just one room and it appeared to be a working area with a small plank that sits across the top of a wine barrel. This looked like it could be a tasting bar??? [standing room only!! Haha] There really was some pretty cool and interesting old looking equipment sitting around the place. [as seen in the photo above and below] At some point we were joined by a man, who had to be none other than Damon Lanphear. He and his wife Rebecca, are the winery owners and have run the place since its inception and first harvest back in 2010. 

Damon was a software engineer from Seattle, and Rebecca was working on her master’s in environmental engineering. They moved to Vashon Island in 1999 and found a home on a couple of acres of old farmland. [meaning it hasn't been used as a farm for many years] The couple has a long history of gardening together and they were looking for a gardening project. Something they could do together, that would contribute to the local food scene. It didn’t take long for them to realize that grapes would be the perfect crop. They took a few classes, but they are admittedly self taught. You know, learn as you go kind of training!! [the best kind!!]

Damon and Rebecca planted four different varietals of grapes on their property. Pinot Noir, the lone red grape here, along with three white wine grapes: chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, and siegerrebe. I have never heard of or tasted this siegerrebe grape before. Interestingly enough, most white wine grapes have a white or pale green color to their skin… the siegerrebe grape has pinkish-red skin!! It is said to be an “off dry to lusciously sweet” wine to the taste. While it has record breaking yields off the vine, it will not know greatness in the wine world due to its lack of acidity.

The ultimate goal of Damon and Rebecca was to grow grapes that represented the local area and make small batch wines. They have no desire to get grow bigger and the next steps truly depend on how the winery is received by the locals. Speaking of locals, they commission local artists to create their wine labels. How cool!? [you can see a sample in the photo below] Sadly, I do not remember if the siegerrebe wine was one of our tastings. From the photo below I can only assume we tasted the red wines that were available. I also do not remember if we enjoyed the wines, and I'm pretty sure we did not purchase any of them either.

The thing I do remember is that Katie and I were having the time of our lives!! Cruising around in Steele [top down] on an island in the Pacific NorthWest stopping at local island wineries, how could we possibly not be!? That and the fact that we have a blast no matter what we do!!

As near as I can tell, Vashon Winery was bought out by Palouse Winery. If this sounds familiar it's because I just wrote about Palouse Winery in last weeks blog!! My... what a good memory you have!! LOL I have been unable to find out if the barn tasting room is still open or not, but good or bad [Hahaha] it will live on in my memories forever.

Next week Wine with Wixy will be “keeping in weird” [quite successfully if I may add.. LOL] as Shawn, Katie, and I take a road trip with a scenic diversion to visit Portland!!

Cheers to you my wine loving friends, and TTFN!!