Eagle Haven Winery a homey experience

 A recent outing to Eagle Haven Winery, located on North Cascades Highway about four miles east of Sedro-Woolley, turned out to be much more fun than I anticipated.

The tasting room is apparently quite popular with the local crowd, and, in fact, a few of them dropped by for a glass of wine during my visit. It's a warm, inviting room lined in knotty pine and it includes something you rarely find at a winery - swivel chairs to sit in while you sample wines at the tasting bar. Think Dick Cavett meets the Deming Logging Show, and you've got the idea.

Current releases include four white wines, each priced at $16: a 2006 Madeleine Angevine that displays a beautiful nectarine aroma and a bone-dry finish, and a 2006 Madeleine Angevine Reserve that's slightly peachy and resembles a light viognier.

Also available are the 2007 Siegerrebe and a 50/50 blend of Madeleine Angevine and Siegerrebe that features a hint of spice and a faint sweetness on the finish.

A couple red wines really shine and I'm pleased to give them a must-try recommendation. The 2006 Yakima Valley Sangiovese ($20) makes an excellent food wine with red cherry flavors, nice acidity, medium tannins and a zesty finish of oak and allspice. The 2004 Syrah ($20) is drinking extremely well, with a lovely aroma of sweet alfalfa, and a round, elegant texture and flavors of chocolate cherry.

The winery also features several fruit wines that I didn't sample, including red apple, pear, and blackberry.

A bit of bad news: With the exception of a few Skagit County locations, including Compass Wines in Anacortes, the only place you're likely to find these wines is at the winery. But that's not such a bad thing; it's only about a 40-minute drive from Bellingham, and the homey atmosphere of the tasting room easily makes the trip worthwhile.

Current hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, expanding to Thursday through Monday beginning in April. More information: www.eaglehavenwinery.com.