Lummi Island’s Artisan Wine Gallery is a True Hidden Gem

When Rich Frye and Pat Hayes opened their wine shop about 15 years ago, it’s likely they envisioned it as a place for island residents and out-of-town visitors to gather, relax, and enjoy a little wine tasting.

To put it mildly and metaphorically, they crushed it.

Artisan Wine Gallery is exactly the kind of place you’d expect on picturesque Lummi Island. Home to about 1,000 residents, there’s really not a lot to do here. So having a place to meet up on Friday and Saturday afternoons – and especially with good wine involved – seems like an activity that’s perfectly suited to the island’s laid-back atmosphere.

A visit to Artisan Wine Gallery requires a few things. First, prepare to wind down. You’ll likely need to wait a bit at the mainland ferry dock at Gooseberry Point, about a 30 minute drive from Bellingham. The crossing only takes five to ten minutes, but once you hit the island you’ll immediately notice the slower change of pace.

Second, prepare to meet people. The tiny tasting room doesn’t accommodate many and its coziness is conducive to conversation. While there, you’re almost certain to rub elbows with a mix of local regulars as well as visitors to the island from Seattle, Western Washington, or practically anywhere else from the around the country.

Third, get ready for some super-delicious wines. Rich and Pat always have a good selection of Old World and New World wines from which to taste. And Rich’s tasting notes are spot-on descriptors of what you can expect to find in your glass. Artisan Wine Gallery also features a nice supply of wines available for purchase, all at extremely reasonable prices.

In addition to wines, the shop does indeed include a rotating gallery of artwork available for purchase, often from local artists. And fresh-baked bread is another wonderful feature here; currently available for pickup on Friday from 4 to 5:30 pm if your order is received by Wednesday.

“Hidden gem” may be an overused idiom in the wine world, but not so here. Artisan Wine Gallery nails it on all counts: it’s nestled away on the center of an island getaway, the hosts are congenial and knowledgeable, the company is great, and the wines are excellent. Thank you, Rich and Pat. It simply doesn’t get any better for those of us who enjoy wines…and the winetasting experience that goes with it.

Artisan Wine Gallery is located at 2072 Granger Way, Lummi Island

(360) 758-2959

www.artisanwineclub.com