Winery startups sprout in Whatcom County

BELLINGHAM – New wineries are popping up over much of Washington, mostly in the Walla Walla and Woodinville areas. But the trend is spreading to pockets of the Puget Sound region.

The growth has added almost 200 wineries since 2005, said Ryan Pennington, communications manager for the Washington Wine Commission.

Whatcom County in the state’s northwest corner has seven wineries and two more – Dynasty Cellars and Poiesis Wines – expect to open soon, said Ken Peck, owner of Dakota Creek Winery in Blaine. Whatcom wineries are small – most sell 1,000 to 2,000 cases a year – and make artisan wines, Peck said.

“It hasn’t been an explosion on the level of Walla Walla or Woodinville by any stretch, and I don’t think it will be,” said Jeff Wicklund, owner of Purple in Smile Wines Fairhaven. “Whatcom County winemakers aren’t refinery wineries. They’re smaller in production and mostly boutiques.”

In the next two months, Peck said local wineries will form an association to increase their marketing ability and set up wine-tasting tours. Tours would be an important boost to Peck’s sales, because he sells three-quarters of his wine at his winery, he said. “We keep hearing about people going to Woodinville and Eastern Washington to do tours, and we want to convince them to stay here,” Peck said.

Maintaining the pace of this growth could prove difficult, said John Powers, co-owner of Chuckanut Ridge Wine Co. in Ferndale, as rising gas and grape prices push up the cost of producing wine.

“Business depends on people paying a certain price per bottle,” Wicklund said. “So far people have accepted the idea that it’s an experience worth the price.”