Camaraderie Cellars
“You never quit your day job when you start a winery,” laughs Don Corson as he and his wife Vicki recall the beginning of Camaraderie Cellars in Port Angeles.
“So, we started a hobby wine business while we worked. We thought it would be fun,” Vicki says. A multi-generational group of friends gathered for food, fellowship, music and wine, and helped to create that first vintage—and inspired the name: Camaraderie. That was in 1981 when the wine scene in Washington state was just taking off. A few years later, they went professional. Camaraderie’s initial offering of two wines has evolved to more than a dozen and the tasting room, originally a wooden plank on two barrels, is now an elegant, yet cozy, retreat situated in an artistically styled garden that compels visitors to meander throughout.
“Don will see someone arriving and go to meet them, but I know it’ll be awhile before they get to the tasting room because they’re wandering through the secret garden, wondering what types of water features, sounds, and whimsical sights are around the next corner,” smiles Vicki.
Once in the tasting room, visitors have a variety of award-winning hand-crafted wines to sample. The wines are made in small lots of 150 cases, with no more than 3,000 total per year. Don does everything but grow the grapes. “We let our vineyard partners do what they do really well,” Don grins. Don makes the annual trek to eight carefully selected vineyards in five American Viticultural Areas in Eastern Washington, driving 5,406 miles last year in his distinctive black diesel truck and 25’ trailer. The grapes are harvested, brought to the winery, stemmed and crushed within 24 hours.
“We make wines over a two month harvest season,” Don says. “Then babysit them for two years! Monitoring is important during that time. Lots can go wrong. You can’t just wait for a pop-up button like you do a turkey!” he laughs. Specifically crafted by Don to compliment local foods, Camaraderie wines are full-bodied and traditionally aged in oak barrels sourced from around the world. They range from the classic Bordeaux varieties (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot) to Italian varieties (Sangiovese and Dolcetto), to Spanish Tempranillo and even a small amount of Syrah and Mouvedre.
“People ask what wine is my favorite and I say, ‘I don’t make any wine I’m not passionate about.’ I believe that the best things in life are meant to be shared,” Don explains. “Our wines are reasonably priced and our quality will hold up to anybody’s. That’s the benefit of 30+ years of wine making in Washington State.”
Vicki and Don, Owners
One of the most established wineries on the Olympic Peninsula, Camaraderie has a large fan base of wine club members and repeat visitors.
“We have a strong wine club and tourists who come in after bicycling and kayaking. We’re not a ‘stuffy’ winery,” says Don. “Locals drop by in their grubbies.”
Visitors can come as they are and are welcome to bring a picnic lunch. Just be sure to allow enough time to explore.