Sip your way through a delicious selection of local wines, beers, and spirits on San Juan Island this spring. What better way to kick off the promise of warmer weather than to sample what’s on offer at island wineries and craft breweries with your favorite travel buddy?
Some of these locations you will be able to easily walk to from your accommodations at The Tucker House Inn & Harrison House Suites, including Madrone Cellars & Cider Tasting Room and the San Juan Brewery. And as you plan your route, don’t forget to make dinner reservations at Coho Restaurant, which is also located just a block and a half down the street from the inn. Coho offers many locally made organic wines and craft shrub cocktails.
If you are looking to explore further out of town, we have you covered there as well. Whichever path you take, you can enjoy the tastes and natural beauty of the San Juans as you explore the island.
Madrone Cellars & Cider Tasting Room
Madrone Cellars owners Shaun and Amy are up-and-coming winemakers in the San Juan Islands. Their journey started off in 2017 when Shaun was asked to make cider for a friend’s wedding and, from there, their passion took off. They opened a tasting room in Friday Harbor during the summer of 2020 and currently stock a selection of wines and ciders, all made right here on the island. They offer wine and cider flights as well as small plates to share while sampling their beverages. And don’t miss their sparkling wine options — a favorite of ours here at the inn!
Westcott Bay Cider and San Juan Island Distillery
Westcott Bay Cider and San Juan Island Distillery is the second oldest cider works in Washington. At Wescott, they grow all their own fruit in their small but mighty one-and-a-half acre orchard, which produces hundreds of pounds of apples each year. They handpick, juice, and ferment their award-winning English-style cider. They have since expanded into producing other spirits as well and now distill their own apple brand, and make their own gin.
When visiting Westcott Bay Cider, you will be able to walk through the orchards, learn the process of cider making, distilling, and you will be given free samples of their ciders as well. If you like what you taste, they have bottles of their ciders and spirits available for purchase.
San Juan Vineyard
If you are looking for a classic picture-perfect winery, San Juan Vineyard is the place to go. Located right off of Roche Harbor Road, this 20+ acre property produces all the grapes they use to produce their wines. You can walk the fields of the vineyard or you can sit outside and enjoy a tasting of their red or white wines. Their tasting room is set inside a 100-year-old schoolhouse that overlooks the chapel on the property. Not only will you be experiencing great wine, but you will also get a glimpse of our island’s history!
San Juan Island Brewing Company
San Juan Island Brewing Company tends to stick to producing the classics, from pale ale to porter, but you won’t want to miss their selection of seasonal beers and ciders as well. When visiting the brewery in the spring, you’ll find a beautiful apricot cider and Hazy Plum IPA on the menu. Can’t decide? They offer beer flights so you can try several of their current options. If you happen to find yourself there at lunchtime, get yourself something from their menu. They specialize in wood-fired pizza and big, mouth-watering German pretzels.
Coho Restaurant
To complete your springtime tour, reserve a table at Coho Restaurant. Here you will be able to try another great local winemaker, Archipelago. They do not have a tasting room just yet, but Coho offers a selection of their island-made wines. You might also opt for the wine pairing with your meal, which matches the perfect glass with each course.
Ask our innkeepers to help you reserve a table. We can’t wait to hear all about your sipping through the springtime San Juan tour!
