BREMERTON — The sixth annual Kitsap Wine Festival at Harborside Fountain Park is a celebration.
Proceeds benefit Harrison Medical Center Foundation, and that’s worth celebrating.
And the event features some of finest food and wine from the region — culinary and viticultural achievements that are increasingly celebrated here and abroad.
The delectable day is Aug. 9, 2-5:30 p.m. on the waterfront. Tickets are $50 through Aug. 9, $60 at the door. Go to www.kitsapwinefestival.com to purchase.
The event features:
— Wine and beer sampling from 40 Northwest wineries and breweries, among them: Chandler Reach, Chocolate Shop Wines, Convergence Zone Cellars, Davenport Cellars, Der Blokken Brewery, Elegante Cellars, Forgeron Cellars, Hale’s Ales, Kana Winery, Knipprath Cellars, Laurelhurst Cellars, Long Road Winery, Madsen Family Cellars, Maryhill Winery, Masquerade Wine Company, Mosquito Fleet Winery, NHV Wines, Page Cellars, Silver City Brewery, Stina’s Cellars, Stottle Winery, Terra Blanca Winery, Vinos Argentinos, and Waterbrook Winery.
— Summer Sipper Bar, featuring local Rieslings, rosés and sparkling wines.
— Tastes from area restaurants and purveyors: Amy’s Decadent Chocolates, Anthony’s at Sinclair Inlet, Bay Street Bistro, Bella Bella Cupcakes, Boat Shed, Bremerton Bar & Grill, Carter’s Chocolates & Ice Cream, Evergreen Catering, CJ’s Evergreen General Store, Gold Mountain Golf Club, Kitsap Conference Center, Minder Meats, and Toro Lounge Tapas & Spirits.
— Live music.
— On-site wine and retail shop.
“It’s a great event for Bremerton and the Kitsap area,” said Arne Bakker, general manager of event presenter Kitsap Conference Center.
“It’s a local event. The wineries are, at the most, Washington state wineries. The breweries are local. All of the restaurants come out of area and get to showcase their food. It’s a phenomental social event that shows the quality of what we have in Kitsap.”
And, he added, the medical foundation “is always a good cause.”
The event raised $51,000 for the foundation in 2013, according to Shannon Johnson of co-sponsor Columbia Hospitality.
“It’s so great to be out in front of the water, enjoying great food and wine in the sunshine,” Johnson said. “There’s nothing better.”
Some of these wines are making waves, having garnered top honors at the 2014 Seattle Wine Awards, which is run by Christopher Chan, former sommelier at the Rainier Club in downtown Seattle.