“We were lucky to have moved close to Poulsbo. It is such a unique, historical and beloved Nordic waterfront town,” says Gretchen Adams. She and her husband Les opened the storefront tasting room on the city’s Front Street, a popular place for tourists, boaters and locals.
The couple share equally in the winemaking duties. After her oldest son was born, Gretchen decided to retire from her career in fashion. She discovered her passion for wine, listening to podcasts on French wine regions, hearing from Italian winemakers and finding news of interesting things happening in the New World, like Oregon and Washington. These inspirations led Gretchen to begin studying organic viticulture.
To put her knowledge to the test, they bought grapes from Red Mountain and Willamette Valley, and the result was delicious wine. That first batch evolved into Les taking an immersive winemaking trip to Napa with a focus on tasting and blending.
The couple purchased a small neglected vineyard in the Columbia Gorge AVA, and painstakingly began the process of restoring the overgrown vines and farming the land organically. Ultimately, they learned a ton before selling off the vineyard and moving their family to a lovely spot on Hood Canal with room for a little farm, a winery and crush pad. “We source from small Washington family-owned vineyards with sustainable and organic farming practices,” says Gretchen.
They debuted their first commercial vintage in 2017 and opened their Poulsbo tasting room in November 2019. A visit inside showcases Gretchen and Les’ passion for winemaking and for sharing the fruits of their labor, with a beautifully designed interior, complete with large murals, hand-painted by Gretchen’s mother.
Visit: 18850 Front St NE, Poulsbo; (360) 626-1899, check the website for updated hours and information at www.state42wines.com
Below are four wines we recently reviewed:
State 42 Wines 2018 Artz Vineyard Cabernet Franc
91 pts.
Balances impeccable fruit with Red Mountain terroir, exhibiting a lovely confluence of strawberry preserves and rich, crushed cherry flavors that meld harmoniously with graphite, rock, earth dusky spice and dried herbs. Finishes with satisfying length and polish. $26
State 42 Wines 2018 Tempranillo Rosé
90 pts.
This refreshing and well-made version is crafted using certified organic grapes grown in the Columbia Gorge AVA. Fresh strawberry, watermelon and lime flavors are backlit with bright, focused acidity, as white peppercorn accents liven up the finish. $20
State 42 Wines 2018 Chardonnay
89 pts.
Made with grapes grown in a cooler climate area of the Columbia Gorge AVA, this version comes alive with minerally etched flavors of pineapple, mango, apple and fresh squeezed lime layered with tropical coconut accents. Delicate spice lingers on the long fresh finish. $22
State 42 Wines 2017 GSM
90 pts.
This red blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre (GSM) is nimble and enchanting, with floral aromas of violet, red fruit, spice and leather. Solidly built and medium in weight, revealing nuanced layers of lively raspberry, blackberry, white pepper and light gamey notes intermingled with dried herbs of anise, lavender and sage. $20