Camaraderie Cellars

In 1992, Don Corson and his wife, Vicki, formed Camaraderie Cellars with a “combination of hope, a small new building, great vineyard connections, and a family philosophy that the best things in life are meant to be shared.” OK, they had me at “hope,” but what distinguishes Camaraderie is this sense of community and the belief in sharing the good things in life. You see this reflected in the beautiful gardens that greet you when you arrive, the handcrafted outdoor furniture, and the new tasting room topped with a beautiful weathervane. This, my fellow WineTrails lover, is one winery with many a photo op.

Camaraderie Cellars wines are made to complement many types of cuisine. You find yourself wondering how steak au poivre would taste with Camaraderie’s hearty merlot blend or how Beethoven might sound as one of Don’s Bordeaux-style red blends is swishing around your palette. It’s no wonder select restaurants and wine bars include Camaraderie Cellar Wines on their wine lists.

Don is routinely asked why he chose to locate his winery in Port Angeles. He responds that the area’s cool marine air and mild summers offer the perfect conditions for grapes to ferment in the winery’s French barrels. But he adds that great wine begins with the best fruit, and to that end, Camaraderie is fortunate to get its grapes from the Artz Vineyards on Red Mountain and Champoux Vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The contrasting elements of Eastern Washington’s dry, hot climate and Western Washington’s mild, wet climate work magic on the grapes. Yin and yang. Hearty stew and cabernet sauvignon. Beethoven and a red Bordeaux blend. It doesn’t get any better than that.

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  Camaraderie Cellars was featured in WineTrails of Washington as part of the Olympic Peninsula WineTrail on page 68!