A Legacy of Friendship and Fine Wine
Our “official” story began in 1992 when we received our Federal Bonded Winery number WA185. Thirty plus years later Camaraderie Cellars is one of the oldest continuously operated family-owned wineries in Washington State.
But the winemaking passion was sparked in 1981 when a small multi-generational group of budding oenophiles decided to try its hand at making wine in Redmond, Washington. Our first 100 pounds of Eastern Washington grapes was fermented in a large trash can in our garage, hand pressed through cheese cloth and into a five-gallon car boy. The product was good enough to win a gold medal in a local amateur competition and the hook was set.
In 1990, the Corson family moved from the Seattle area west to Port Angeles on the north Olympic Peninsula for Don to take a new position managing real estate holdings for a forestry company. The dream of a commercial winery that began in our garage in 1981 came along with the move.
A forested property was found not too far out of town. Little by little it was cleared to make way for our buildings and grounds. But the largest trees were milled on site and became the structural timbers for several of our buildings and later our home that is also on site. It started with one modest building housing all production, barrels and storage and has grown slowly through the years to include multiple buildings and a covered area for production.
In 1994 Gene and Mary Ann Unger joined Camaraderie as partners . Our enduring friendship and complementarity set of skills helped us make the dream of the winery become a reality. With their help we were able to invest in the best winery equipment available and elevate the winery from a hobby venture to a passionate business.
Camaraderie Cellars has chosen to remain small and focused on small lot production of wines from great Northwest vineyards. What started out with only being able to source grapes from just a few available producing vineyards in the early 1990’s to now partnering with some of the best vineyards in the state totaling 7 distinct vineyards across 6 AVA’s.
In 2023 we hired Amy Harksell as our Assistant Winemaker. Starting out as a neighbor with an “interest in wine” and a first career as a city planning director, Don mentored her to become more than a “cellar rat” to become the right arm of winery operations.
It helps that she was a champion rodeo rider in her youth! Barrels are easier to move than roping a calf!
Over the years too, Don began to follow his gardening passion. Large cedars and firs were kept as the framework for garden nooks that have become favorite places for visitors to enjoy while tasting. The now-mature gardens have four-season interest and are dotted with stone sculptures, another of Don’s artistic passions. Enjoy the gallery of garden images below.
More than a motto, our philosophy is “The Best Things in Life Are Meant to Be Shared”. We want Camaraderie Cellars to not just be a winery but a place where people are welcomed and treated like friends. Our winery is literally an extension of our home and gardens and we invite our visitors to come and enjoy exceptional wines but also discover a hidden gem and a place to relax.
We look to many more years of being one of Washington States best kept winery secrets.
A Toast to Community
Camaraderie’s Community Partners
What do our local hospital’s foundation, the Audubon bird center, our 90 plus year old community orchestra, our marine educational center and performing arts center have in common? Camaraderie Cellars has crafted specialty wines for all of them as fund raisers. Well over $125,000 has been raised over the years to help support good work for a great community. Come by the winery for a select tasting of truly unique wines!
