The Whidbey Island Winery began as a dream and a chance for career changes for Gregory and Elizabeth Osenbach. The two lived in Monroe and were making homemade wine. Producing wine in Monroe was a bit of a problem because the climate was too wet.
The biggest part of that dream was moving to Whidbey Island and starting a winery from scratch. As many of you know, Whidbey Island lies in the rain shadow from the Olympic Mountain Range. This makes Whidbey somewhat drier than much of the Puget Sound.
In 1984 Greg and Elizabeth moved to Whidbey Island. They found a 10-acre site that would be perfect for their winery; it was very close to Langley and would be a good location for retailing their wines.
They built a home and started growing grapes. With a maturing crop of grapes it was time to expand. In 1990 they built the winery building and proceeded to get all the licenses that would be required to sell their wines.
1991 was their first production year and by the summer of 1992 they had sold 400 cases of wine. Today that number is between 3000 and 3500 cases of wine.
Currently about one third of the grapes that are used in producing their wines comes from the Whidbey Island vineyard; the rest of the grapes come from the Yakima Valley.
Greg and Elizabeth have developed a strong relationship with the growers in Yakima. They have input on how the grapes are grown. It used to be that the growers were paid by the pound for their grapes. This tended to reduce the quality of the grapes grown since the emphasis was on quantity.
Now grapes are sold by the acre; there is less of a focus on quantity and more on the quality.of the grape. If the crop level is lower you have better quality and the flavors are more intense.
If you click on the wine label above you can view a short video about the winery.
Elizabeth does the important book work that is needed for the enterprise’s success. Leah Waaramaki is the other half of the wine making team, with Greg, and she is also involved in the wineries marketing efforts. Leah comes from the wine growing area of California and has provided a lot of energy and love to the business and it’s wine making.
If you click on the above label there is a video interview with Leah Waaramaki talking about Seattle’s 2009 Wine Awards. The Whidbey Island Winery won a Gold Medal for their White Rh0ne Style 2007 Roussanne.
The Whidbey Island Winery produces both white and red wines. Three of the whites are produced at the vineyard; Madeline Angevine, Island White and Siegerrebe.
To find out more about the winery you can visit their website by clicking here.
The Winery is located on 5237 Langley Road in Langley, Washington, 98260.
You can call them at 360-221-2040
Here is a nice piece from Kathy McLaughlin and the Good Cheer Food Bank and Thrift Stores. Kathy is the Executive Director at Good Cheer; people helping people is what it is all about. No better way to spread happiness and compassion:
It’s Back! Good Cheer’s Biggest, Baddest Bag Sale Of Them All!
This is a reminder, a doorbuster sale, that takes place the first Tuesday of the Month between 10:00 a.m. and 5 p.m at the Langley store and from 9:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. at the Clothing Rack in Clinton. Mark your calendar for February 2nd and pile up some real bargains!
Ever wanted a real grab bag? Here’s your chance.
Come shop the Good Cheer Thrift Stores we’ll supply the bag, normal grocery store bag, and you do the choosing, grabbing and stuffing of any clothing item under $10.
Whatever clothing you can fit into one bag, you pay only $5! Now that’s a bargain!
Questions? Call 221-6454 or email kathy@goodcheer.org.
Find a treasure at either of the two Thrift Stores; Langley or Clinton. The bag sale is for clothing only.
Why buy new when used will do… and you can help end hunger at the same time?
Thrift Store (Langley)
114 Anthes / P.O. Box 144
Langley, WA 98260
Good Cheer Two Thrift Store (Clinton)
4777 Commercial, Clinton, WA (Near Clinton Food Mart & Jim’s Hardware)
Now Open 7 days A Week! • 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Kids clothes too!
Good Cheer Two, Clinton Thrift Store, now sells clothing in an adjacent suite dubbed “Good Cheer Clothing Rack”.
The store sells gently used clothing for the entire family, everything from sleepwear to winter coats, plus shoes and accessories for $7 or less.
Proceeds help fund Good Cheer, which operates the community food bank.
While not clothing the fluffy toys are fun and make a good play thing for Fido.
Good Cheer’s Clothing Rack is open weekdays from noon to 5 p.m. and from noon. to 5 p.m. Sundays thru Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The bag sale is an exception to the normal operating hours; remember the Good Cheer Clothing Rack will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on the day of the sale.
The photos are from the Langley store, I’ll make a point of getting some from the Clinton store in the future.
Good Shopping!
Here is the link to her Good Cheer Blogsite.
The Langley Village Bakery makes for a wonderful local story. Misty Moore, the current owner, worked at the bakery from 1993-1999 as a baker/counterperson. She and her husband Johnnie (an aircraft mechanic) left Whidbey Island and spent a year in Arizona before they moved back to Stanwood in 2000.
They were thinking about starting a bakery in Stanwood, but karma took over. They found out that the bakery in Langley was up for sale. With a loan from the bank they were able to purchase the bakery that they named The Langley Village Bakery.
Misty and Johnnie have put their own style into this charming bakery. They did have some help from Wanda, one of the previous owners, who was able to pass along some old recipes to Misty. So, with old recipes in hand, some paint and a little cleaning up they opened up shop. Her husband, an electrician in the aircraft business, starts his day in the wee hours of the morning baking goodies for you and the tourists. Perhaps the aircraft business might be a little easier; at least the hours?
Most days you’ll find Misty at the counter or relieving Johnnie. Misty has a warm smile for everyone. She seems to know everyone by name; this is a real hometown bakery. I suggest it’s the people who own it that give it that atmosphere. Her daughter Taylor (10) and son Monty (14) help out around the bakery; it is definitely a family business!
The bakery is nestled in the part of town known as the Langley Village. There a quaint shops to browse and plenty of quiet spots to enjoy a pastry and a cup of coffee.
Thanks Misty; the cookies were GREAT!
The Langley Village Baker is located at 211 2nd St, Langley, Whidbey Island, WA 98260. You can reach the bakery at 360-221-3525; I’m sure that they can take care of your special needs.
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