Harbinger Winery

Harbinger n. – one that indicates or foreshadows what is to come; a forerunner.

In 2004, Sara Gagnon and Tammi Hinkle experienced a traumatic event that proved to be life altering: They survived a plane crash. Tragically, the pilot of the small plane died, but Sara and Tammi managed to get out of the crash with their lives. The accident proved to be the impetus for living each day as if it were their last. Indeed, emblazoned across the Harbinger sign inside the winery is their mantra, “Step forth and be the harbinger of your dreams.”

And after that close call, harbingers of their dreams they became! Sara had been the chief winemaker at nearby Olympic Cellars, which gave her considerable exposure to the commercial side of the business. Her dream was to have her own winery. Tammi had been a kayaking guide and harbored notions of owning her own kayaking business. After the plane crash, both women decided to act on their dreams and together they launched Harbinger Winery. As winemaker, Sara spends most days tending to myriad winery duties. Tammi, on the other hand, invests most of her time in her “baby”: Adventures Through Kayaking guide service.

Harbinger’s winery and tasting room are located just west of Port Angeles on the south side of Highway 101 in a large blue metal building that looks “suspiciously like an old logging-truck shop.” Inside the winery, the atmosphere is “Northwest comfort,” with Buddha statues serving as decoration, a huge gold couch, and kayaks hanging on the wall. The concrete floors provide cool comfort even on the hottest days of the summer. However, we’re here for the tasting and with a $2 tasting fee, visitors enjoy a smorgasbord of reds and whites. Depending upon availability, get ready for “Dynamo White” (a blend of riesling, chardonnay, and semillon), “Dynamo Red” (a blend of syrah, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot), syrah, cabernet franc rosé, a surprising “Cranberry Bliss” (a blend of cranberry and chardonnay), and “Blackberry Bliss,” which borrows from Sara’s family recipe for blackberry wine. “Dynamo Red” has turned out to be the winery’s best-seller, and your taste buds will undoubtedly agree with the consensus.

WineTrail lovers are indebted to Sara and Tammi for living their dream. As that famous American philosopher Dr. Seuss once wrote, “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”

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  Harbinger Winery was featured in WineTrails of Washington as part of the Olympic Peninsula WineTrail on page 70!