Carpenter Creek Winery

When you think of Skagit County, perhaps your mind doesn’t conjure up images of wine tasting but instead visualizes tulips blooming in April across the valley. Au contraire, trekker! Mount Vernon is also home to Carpenter Creek Winery, where winemaker/owner Jeffrey Hammer specializes in handcrafted premium wines. The approach to Carpenter Creek Winery is a nice surprise in itself. The winery is nestled amongst tall firs and cedar trees, just far enough off the beaten path that you can hear Carpenter Creek gurgling in the background.

Carpenter Creek Winery produces about 3,000 cases of wine each year and focuses on Eastern Washington varietals, including riesling, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, semillon, syrah, and cabernet sauvignon. The awards draping many of the wine bottles a testament that you have arrived at the right place for tasting. Be sure to try Jeff’s estate-grown siegerebbe. These German grapes don’t do well in the hot, dry climates east of the Cascades, but thrive in the cool, damp climates found in the Puget Sound region. You might also find other unique wines, including perhaps a semillon ice wine, which, by the way, would be a perfect partner with fresh peaches and pound cake.

WineTrail enthusiasts will zero in on the distinctive long-stem wine glasses that Carpenter Creek Winery uses in the tasting room. They’re gorgeous and remind one of a tulip in shape. Coincidence? I think not.

Speaking of tulips, April is a special time of the year to visit the winery and enjoy its Spring Wine and Tulips Festival. Carpenter Creek Winery provides hors d’ oeuvres, barrel tasting, new releases, and daily specials in the gift shop. There might even be some “brats” to go with the cabernet. You definitely want to pick up a bunch of tulips and a case of wine while you are at this WineTrail favorite. Enjoy!

• 

  Order the book!

  Carpenter Creek Winery was featured in WineTrails of Washington as part of the Skagit County WineTrail on page 26!