Tag Archives: Kitsap Wine Festival 2013

What we’re drinking: Knipprath Cellars

Brynn writes:

Based in Spokane, the only chance we were going to get to try this winery’s wines was at a local tasting. Lucky for us they were at the Kitsap Wine Festival in August.

This was probably one of the most interesting wineries at the wine festival, largely because the wines produced aren’t everyday wines.

Knipprath focuses on Portuguese and Spanish grape varietals grown in the Northwest. The winery also has a heavy focus on Port wines and different flavor variations of Port.

Some of the Ports poured at the wine festival by winemaker Henning Knipprath were: NV Spanish Nudge Coffee Port, NV Au Chocolate Cabernet Port and my favorite of the three, NV Lagrima White Port.

Knipprath also poured a 2010 La Bodega Del Norte Touriga Nacional Red, which is a red wine made from Portuguese grapes traditionally used for Port.

The Lagrima White Port had a nutty finish similar to what you would find in sherry, but it was rounded out with a balanced sweetness of a dessert wine.

The grapes that make up the white port are Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Albariño, a white grape with Portuguese origins that is also grown in Spain.

The wine is aged in neutral oak casks for 30 months, which helps give it that nutty finish.

I’m not a huge fan of wine that’s been infused with chocolate flavors, but the Au Chocolate Port had a strong chocolate nose and subtle finish. Knipprath uses cocoa beans to infuse the chocolate flavors in the Cabernet Sauvignon he uses to make this Port-style wine.

For you coffee lovers out there, the Spanish Nudge Coffee Port had a nice combination of Syrah and dark roast coffee. Knipprath infused the wine with cinnamon sticks, giving it a cinnamon nose. This was another interesting combination that had a lot of people coming back for second tastings. (A certain someone who also writes this wine blog, but who asked to remain anonymous — hint her name rhymes with “Berry” — also enjoyed this wine and its complexity.)

Learn more about Knipprath and how to get the wines at the website: knipprath-cellars.com.

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Do you have your Kitsap Wine Festival tickets yet?

It’s August and you know what that means, it’s Kitsap Wine Festival time.

This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 17 starting at 2 p.m. at the Harborside Fountain Park next to the Bremerton ferry terminal.

There looks to be a good line up of wineries that will be pouring from different tables set up around the fountains, and according to the event’s website there will be even more food offerings this year.

Here’s just a few of the wineries we’re looking forward to tasting:

  • Camaraderie Cellars
  • Convergence Zone Cellars
  • Davenport Cellars (their 2009 Snowflake from Bacchus Vineyard was one of our favorites from the 2010 festival)
  • Dubindil Winery (we liked their 2008 Syrah poured at the 2011 festival)
  • Knipprath Cellars (their website says they specialize in Northwest grown Portuguese and Spanish grapes, with a focus on Port wines. Sounds intriguing.)
  • Maryhill Winery (they always have a strong showing at the festival, especially their crisp white wines, perfect for a hot day)
  • Mosquito Fleet Winery (If you haven’t visited this Belfair winery yet, now’s your chance to try their wines. Make this one of your first stops of the day, you don’t want to miss what they’re pouring.)
  • Stottle Winery (based in Lacey they have tasting rooms in West Seattle and Hoodsport)

It looks like this year’s line up of wineries is a little smaller than years past — 25 compared to last year’s 30-plus — which means you’ll be able to visit more tables and try more wine. (We were disappointed to see some of our favorites from year’s past: Chinook Wines, McCrea Cellars and Kiona Vineyards and Winery, won’t be there this year).

For beer lovers Hale’s Ales and Silver City Brewery will be pouring their brews and Finn River Farm Cidery out of Chimacum will be pouring its hard ciders.

Tickets are $50 and can be purchased from this site.

We love this festival because, well let’s face it, it’s the only wine tasting festival in Kitsap (that we know of). We also enjoy it because of the scenery — love the proximity to the water and the ferry — and because it’s close to home. Another bonus? If you like what you’re tasting you have the chance to buy the wine, which isn’t usually the case at tasting events like these.

For more about the festival, which serves as a fundraiser for the Harrison Medical Center Foundation, visit the event website at www.kitsapwinefestival.com.

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