For those of you who have never been, Leavenworth, Washington, is a quaint and beautiful Bavarian Village nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in the heart of the state. No matter the season, it is a great get-away tourist destination. And in recent years, it has also become a destination for wine lovers as a number of wineries now call the area home and others have opened tasting rooms in downtown Leavenworth. About a two and a half hour drive east of Seattle, Leavenworth was awarded the title of “Ultimate Holiday Town USA” by A&E Network in 2003.
Recently, we spent a weekend in Leavenworth to relax, taste some wines, and attend a jazz concert.
Our first stop was at Boudreaux Cellars. Only open by appointment, Boudreaux is well worth a visit. Owner/winemaker Rob Newsom, a Louisiana native, has lived on the property since 1981 and began making wine in his garage in 1998. In 2001, he started building the winery facilities. Boudreaux currently produces about 2,000 cases per year which is exactly the production level that Newsom plans to maintain. Newsom sources his grapes from many different vineyards around the state. His goal is to get the best grapes from the best vineyards. Boudreaux Cellars is best known for its Cabernet Sauvignon which is excellent. In addition to making great wines, Boudreaux boasts a spectacular setting along the Icicle River.
Then we ventured into downtown Leavenworth and visited several tasting rooms. D’Vinery, which opened in January 2008, is the newest tasting room for Eagle Creek Winery. Nat, the assistant winemaker, was our very friendly and informative host. Eagle Creek Winery is Leavenworth’s oldest winery. Owner/winemaker Ed Rutledge and his wife Pat also own the local Innsbrucker Inn and A Book for All Seasons. Eagle Creek produces about 1,000 cases per year.
We also visited A Taste of Icicle Ridge, the downtown Leavenworth location for Icicle Ridge Winery. A Taste of Icicle Ridge is a beautiful tasting room and gift shop decorated to resemble the log home that is the hallmark of the winery in nearby Peshastin. Louie Wagoner, the Wagoner family patriarch, is a well-known and respected pear farmer who ventured into the winery business about seven years ago. Son-in-law Don Wood is the winemaker and the entire family is involved in the operation. They host special events at the winery throughout the year. Our favorite Icicle Ridge events are their summer Jazzamatazz Concerts.
In fact, the main reason for this trip was to attend the Darren Motamedy jazz concert at Icicle Ridge. There are few things better than sitting on the lawn, sipping wine, and listening to wonderful jazz music as the sun sets behind the mountains.
If You Go:
Seattle/Tacoma is the closest major airport. Leavenworth is approximately 120 miles east of Seattle. From Seattle, take WA-520 E. Exit onto I-405 N toward Everett. Then take exit 23 toward US-2/Wenatchee. Merge onto WA-522 E. At Monroe, turn left onto US-2. Follow US-2 over Stevens Pass and into Leavenworth.
Lodging: For quaint Bavarian themed accommodations, stay at the Bavarian Lodge or the Enzian Inn. For those seeking something different, stay at the Innsbrucker Inn where each room is decorated in a special literary theme. If you’d rather stay outside of town in a mountain cottage retreat, consider the Eagle Creek Cottage. There are a number of other options in Leavenworth to consider as well.
Wineries and tasting rooms to visit:
Boudreaux Cellars, 4551 Icicle Creek Rd, Leavenworth, WA 98826, 509-548-5858, open by appointment only, No tasting fee.
D’Vinery (downtown Leavenworth tasting room for Eagle Creek Winery), 617-4A Front Street, Leavenworth, WA 98826, 509-548-7059, open Mon-Fri: 12-7pm, Sat: 12-8pm, Sun: 11am-6pm, No tasting fee. For directions, click here.
Eagle Creek Winery, 10037 Eagle Creek Road, Leavenworth, WA 98826, 509-548-7668, open Fri-Sun: 11am-5pm (May-October), No tasting fee. For directions, click here.
A Taste of Icicle Ridge (downtown Leavenworth tasting room for Icicle Ridge Winery), 821 Suite-B Front Street, Leavenworth, WA, 98826, 509-548-6156, open Sun-Thurs: 11am-5pm, Fri-Sat: 11am-6pm, $2.50 tasting fee (refundable with purchase). For directions, click here.
Icicle Ridge Winery, 8977 North Road Peshastin, WA, 98847, 509-548-7019, open daily 12-5pm, No tasting fee. For directions, click here.
Other things to do in the area: With its location in the Cascade Mountains, Leavenworth is a year-round playground for outdoor recreationalists. From skiing or snowshoeing in the winter to hiking or river rafting in the summer, there are many activities available in the area. And for those that are not interested in outdoor activities, Leavenworth offers numerous unique shops.