Westport Winery’s Roberts family has again forged new ground, this time by announcing a second tasting room in Oregon. This new facet of their business will be called Westport Winery TASTING @ Cannon Beach. They signed the lease on their new location on May 25.
Winery co-founder, Blain Roberts said, “We are a coastal winery and a watersports family. When we began the search for a second tasting room, we knew we wanted to be near the sea. Over the past two years there has been an ongoing campaign from leaders in the region to get us to come this way.” Cannon Beach is just two hours south of Westport Winery Garden Resort.
His wife and business partner, Kim Roberts said, “Personally, we have a strong history with the coastal Oregon community. When our family moved to the mainland from Maui in 1993, Cannon Beach was on the top of our list of places to relocate. Over 20 years is a long time to wait for a dream to come true, but it has been worth the wait.” Kim, whose background is in architecture serves as the winery’s creative director. She said it will take her about six months to open the new location.
In addition to offering their complete array of 38 award-winning wines and hard ciders, the new tasting room will offer cheese, chocolate and charcuterie tasting. Director of Winemaking Dana Roberts said, “Our premise has always been that wine tasting is a fun experience. When you add the sensory evaluation of great food pairings you simply take it up a notch.” Dana will be bringing some of his wine production capability to this new location including their popular Float wine, bottled in a replica of a Japanese fishing float.
Dana and his sister Carrie became partners in their parents business in March of this year.
Carrie, the winery’s CFO, is equal with her brother and parents in her enthusiasm for this expansion. “Although my first vote was to add a tasting room in the building we own in downtown Lahaina, I just love Cannon Beach!” She and Dana, both born on Maui, may someday achieve this dream, once the Oregon expansion is complete.
The new tasting room will be located next door to Cannon Beach Distillery in The Village, located in the downtown district of Oregon’s most popular coastal community. Distillery owner, Mike Selberg said, “It will be great for the town and great for us to have a parallel industry next door.”
The project was shepherded by Karen La Bonte, the former owner and winemaker from Trio Vintners in Walla Walla. La Bonte and her husband, now residents of Cannon Beach, used their network to acquire the best location in a very competitive real estate market. She said, “The synergy between the winery, the distillery, and the neighboring Seasons restaurant will enhance the inviting, year around experience for both locals and visitors to our wonderful town.”
Westport Winery was named 2011 Washington Winery to Watch by Wine Press Northwest. They have been voted Best Winery by King 5 Evening Magazine for six of the past eight years. They were named the Best Washington Family Business Silver Medal winners in 2012 and received the Grays Harbor Environmental Stewardship Award in 2015. At the Washington tasting room they donate a portion of the proceeds of each of their wines to different local charities having contributed over $300,000 since they were founded in 2008. A similar program is anticipated in their new location.
What the family has started to call “The Mother Ship”, Westport Winery Garden Resort is located on the corner of Highway 105 and South Arbor Road halfway between Aberdeen and Westport. The winery (including the restaurant, bakery, nursery and gardens) is open daily and offers lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. “Garden Resort” was added to the business title in 2015 when they decided they wanted to be the Butchart Gardens of Washington State.