The Harbinger Crew

Sara Gagnon

Sara Gagnon's Port Angeles roots run deep. Her current home sits on a portion of the orchard land homesteaded by her paternal grandparents at the turn of the last century. The acreage has remained in the family ever since -- accessed by Gagnon Road.

A lifelong free spirit, Gagnon grew-up knowing that she wanted to do something challenging, fulfilling and fun with her life - something that made people smile. Her career path took a number of twists and turns from the insurance industry (which Gagnon cheekily recalls as her first and last "real job" with benefits, cubicles, khakis and weight gain!) to ownership of a Port Angeles espresso stand where her entrepreneurial spirit shined.

Crediting her great-grandmother who "always had a crock bubbling away in her basement" with inspiring her current career path, Gagnon began making wine at the "ripe" old age of 20. Her first creation was a blackberry wine made from fruit picked fresh off Gagnon land. This was followed by other fruit wines, and then grape wines.

In 2000, Gagnon accepted an apprenticeship under Dan Caudill, the former owner and winemaker at Olympic Cellars in Port Angeles. Caudill put his 29-year-old apprentice on the fast track, teaching her the ins and outs of running a commercial operation. Six months later, Caudill was forced to take early retirement for medical reasons, and Gagnon became the Olympic Peninsula's youngest head winemaker. She relished this new challenge and was determined to give it her all, supplementing Caudill's tutelage with courses through U.C. Davis' acclaimed Viticulture & Enology Program. Gagnon's first commercial wine, Olympic Cellars' 2001 Dungeness Red, won a gold medal at the Tri-Cities Wine Competition in Pasco.

Then in the summer of 2004, life threw Gagnon a curve. She was involved in a serious small plane crash along with Tammi Hinkle, a friend and fellow kayaker. The two survived, albeit with a new outlook on life.

While putting her life back together, Gagnon determined it was time for her to take the reins and actively pursue her dream of opening a winery where she had complete freedom to create her own style of wines. She approached Hinkle, a professional guide and owner of Adventures Through Kayaking, with the opportunity to partner in the new venture and Hinkle was more than happy to invest. On August 3, 2005 (exactly one year after the accident) the two opened Port Angeles' newest winery, aptly named Harbinger to signify good things to come.

Tammi Hinkle

Originally from Minnesota, Tammi came out to the Olympic Peninsula many summers ago when she worked at the Lake Crescent Lodge during her college break. The alluring Lake Crescent cast its spell on her and Tammi found herself returning to this area year after year to work the busy summer season and enjoy the outdoors.

She found a special place in her heart for kayaking (it could be that she is from the land of 10,000 lakes…or that she's a Pisces…just a theory…). Tammi guided professionally on the rivers, lakes, and open waters for 10 years before deciding to open her own guide service; Adventures Through Kayaking. She is now celebrating her 6th year in business, watching the guide service and specialty retail shop grow with each passing season.

Somewhere along the river of life, the exact time remains a mystery; Tammi discovered the equally fascinating world of wine. Soon kayak and mountain biking adventures were being integrated with winery stops. In 2005, when approached with the opportunity to become a co-owner of a fledgling winery just down the street, she was more than happy to invest in the endeavor.

While running the Kayak shop is a full time job, Tammi still manages to help out on many different levels at Harbinger Winery, from pouring wine and crushing grapes, to marketing the wares.

Dave Shillington

Almost a Washington native, I moved to Port Angeles when I was 5, and other than a short 3 years in Oklahoma city I have never left. I love the Northwest and all it has to offer, whether its camping, mountain biking, or just being on the beach. I love the outdoors and just being in my back yard.

I have spent all of my adult years in Retail sales of which the last 17 years have been in the beer and wine industry. I love good beer and wine and working as a salesman gave me the chance to sample wines from all over the world. That is where my love of wine started and has continued to grow. There is something about a glass of wine that makes you just slow down and reflect.

If you can't find me at the winery or outside you will find me in my garage working on my other love of fused glass. I can lose hours in my shop working on a piece of glass.

I'll try anything once, maybe twice if it's fun(or painful). Stop by try some wine and lets talk (I don't bite) at least not hard!

Remember... Ascend until your wings catch fire

Randi

Raised in Forks, WA, by a high school teacher and a nurse, wine was always something that was for special occasions and holidays. I guess you could say that I was introduced to wine at the perfect time in my life. I was 22, old enough to be legal but I had plenty of time to develop my appreciation for wine. While taking ski/snowboarding class at WSU (I was a senior and needed a one credit class to fill out my schedule) I met boy. After a few months my then boyfriend, now husband, took me home to meet the parents, in Kennewick. They planned a full day of wine tasting. I was amazed at how so many wines could taste so different, yet still be similar. My mother-in-law was amazed that a full day of wine tasting had little effect on our sobriety, thank you WSU. Ever since then no family get together has been complete without wine tasting.

After a few years in the corporate world my husband decided teaching was his calling. He went back to school to get his teaching degree, and after a year of substitute teaching he was offered a full time position at Sequim High School, which he loves. After working at a small bank in Redmond, WA for 5 years I decided that our move to the Peninsula would give me an opportunity to make a career change, and what better way to spend a day then by pouring wine and talking to people. I started helping out in the tasting room on Memorial Day and have been lucky enough to pick up some of Sara's knowledge along the way.

Ed Burks

Recruited by a high-powered headhunter firm in Joyce. Imagine their surprise when I arrived looking for sturgeon, and they thought they had recruited a surgeon. Apparently my NW Louisiana accent had something to do with the misunderstanding. Eleven months later…I was spending so much time at the Harbinger wine tasting bar that Sara thought I was working there, so she started paying me. I enjoy talking about wine and especially tasting wine. Y'all come by sometime and let's have a taste.

Joking aside, Ed has over 35 years experience in the wine industry. He is a free lance writer who has been a wine consultant and buyer for Shrevport restaurants and other private clients. He graduated and completed post graduate courses from the German Wine Academy in Oestirch, founded and was chairmand of the Shrevport Chapter of the German Wine Society; he knows his stuff!

Alli the Winery Dog!

It's her responsibility while at the winery to meet and greet everyone at the door, as well as clean up any stray pretzels and cheese bits. While not working at the winery, her hobbies include chasing seagulls, rolling in stinky things, and keeping vermin out of the yard.