We just returned from a terrific week visiting a friend on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound. The good news is that delays at the US border are now only a few minutes for Canadian land travellers.
If you love flowers, a trip to the island in May to view the Rhododendrons is a must.
Whidbey Island is the largest of the islands composing Island County, Washington. The other large island is Camano Island, east of Whidbey. Whidbey is about 30 miles (48 km) north of Seattle and forms the northern boundary of Puget Sound. The state parks and natural forests are home to numerous old-growth trees.
British sea captain George Vancouver, sailing in the HMS Discovery, was the first European to enter Admiralty Inlet and explore Puget Sound, recording his first visit to Whidbey Island in the summer of 1792. Vancouver named it in honour of his ship’s master, Joseph Whidbey, whose charting forays into Saratoga Passage proved the island was not part of the mainland.
If you are a flower enthusiast make sure you visit Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, a nonprofit garden located in Greenbank. They are open daily and the admission is only $5.
The gardens were founded by Ann and Max Meerkerk in the early 1960s on 13 acres and served as a site where they collected and hybridized rhododendrons. They gradually expanded the garden to 10 acres of rhododendrons surrounded by an additional 43 acres of woodlands. Ann Meerkerk left the gardens to the Seattle Rhododendron Society in 1979.
Today the garden features more than 1,500 varieties of rhododendron species and hybrids.
We also had the opportunity to taste some excellent Washington and Oregon wines at the Greenbank Farm which was built in 1904.
The Three Wines
Spoiled Dog Winery
Spoiled Dog Winery was founded in 2003 by Jack and Karen Krug. While they might appear to be your conventional winery owners, there is nothing conventional about their approach to wine.
One doesn’t think of Washington first when it comes to Pinot Noir. When they decided to move to Whidbey Island and start a winery in a beautiful farm setting, Karen’s passion for Pinot Noir led her to conduct exhaustive research and identify a diverse set of clones that thrive in the maritime micro-climate of Whidbey Island and produce a distinctive complex yet balanced wine using sustainable growing methods.
They also source grapes from some of the best vineyards in Washington and Oregon.
Spoiled Dog Pinot Noir McMinnville 2018
The Pinot Noir grapes are from the Momtazi Vineyard in McMinnville, Oregon and are biodynamically grown.
A fairly bold pinot. Violets on the nose with flavours of raspberry jam, lemon and spices, joined by strawberry-rhubarb compote, cherries and a squirt of cranberry and a hint of earthiness.
Castillo de Feliciana Vineyard & Winery
Castillo de Feliciana Vineyard and Winery is in the heart of Walla Walla Wine Country. We are a family-owned business since 2007, specializing in Spanish varietals – Albariño, Tempranillo, innovative Spanish blends, and seasonal Sangria.
Castillo de Feliciana Albarino – Bull label 2015
Ripe, sweet fruits entertain the senses and include lemon, orange peel, tropical banana, and floral nuances of honeysuckle. The body is full, carrying notes of lemon and lime citrus fruits. A dance between fruit sweetness and bracing acidity leads to a refreshing, clean and lengthy finish.
Wilridge Winery
Wildridge is a family-run winery and distillery in the Yakima valley that operates with European traditions. Their first vineyards were planted in 2007, and in 2017, the company added a brandy distillery using apples, pears, and grapes grown on their estate. It is the first certified organic, SalmonSafe, and biodynamic vineyard and Winery in Washington State. For more than 30 years, Paul Beveridge has been making wines here that showcase the estate terroir. Most of his wines are made in the European style.
Paul expanded the winery in 1996 and extended the capacity to produce 2000 cases of wine annually.
Wilridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Aromas of a galaxy of black fruit. Fruit-forward flavours of black cherry, blackberry and boysenberry, as well as chocolate, tobacco, graphite, mint and dried herbs.
The Cabernet is supple and velvety in texture and pairs beautifully with braised short ribs, veal chops, lamb shanks, roasted winter vegetables, and burgers.
Conclusions
Whidbey Island in Puget Sound is an excellent destination for a relaxing time enjoying the flowers and tasting the local wines.