Curt and Sharon Goodman run Vinland Farms Winery on their homestead, which they describe as a “self-contained ecosystem,” in Redmond. They turned what began as a winemaking hobby into a business when they got licensed in 2000, and started selling at the Carnation Farmers Market in 2010. Curt has been making wine since the 1970s, and when he taught Sharon how to make wine in the 1990s, she was hooked too. Sharon thinks of winemaking as an art form, and as an artisan she knows that making art is the way she fulfills herself.
Vinland Farms Winery only produces fruit wines, which are made solely with artesian water and local fruit, much of which they pick up at the Carnation Farmers Market. But don’t be fooled—these aren’t dessert wines. Instead, Curt and Sharon’s wines are intended to be paired with meals. At the Carnation Farmers Market, you’ll find a variety of flavors depending on what’s in stock, including raspberry, apricot, blueberry, peach, cranberry, and strawberry wine. The artwork decorating the bottles are Curt and Sharon’s own masterpieces, and you’ll find the originals hanging in the Vinland Farms Winery booth when you stop by at the market. If you’re nervous about trying one of Curt and Sharon’s fruit wines, don’t be: their wines are guaranteed, and if you aren’t pleased as punch, they’ll take it back.
Curt and Sharon love the Carnation Farmers Market because it’s a family market. This pair, who refer to themselves as “a couple old hippies,” pride themselves on being a child-friendly winery, and they are. Curt and Sharon love kids and, as a former schoolteacher, Curt always has something up his sleeve to entertain his underage fans. The Goodmans love being part of the community and enjoy being face to face with their customers and friends at the Carnation Farmers Market. Stop by the Vinland Farms Winery stall for good stories and more information about each of their handcrafted wines.