Vineyard opens in Olalla

Croatian family shares their passion with the public

Susan Schell

of the Gateway

Growing grapes and bottling fine wine is nothing new for the Serka family. They’ve been at it in their Olalla vineyard for 20 years and giving away bottles to family and friends as gifts. What’s new is that the family plans to open its doors to the public so they may share what the Croatians have enjoyed all these years.

“We always worked before, so we just did it as a hobby,” Konnie Serka said of herself and her husband, Joe Serka. “But now we’re both retired and can put more time into it.”

And time they have. In 2007, the Serkas began to build a separate tasting room next to their home and have devoted 3 acres of their 8-acre plot to grape growing.

Plans already are in the works to expand the wine cellar.

“Joe has already outgrown this,” Konnie Serka said of the temperature-controlled wine cellar attached to the tasting room. “We need another cave.”

The Olalla Valley Vineyard will open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays beginning Oct. 10. The Serkas hosted a pre-opening ceremony on Sunday for family and friends to taste the wine and enjoy nature. They said the point is to steer clear of grab-and-go grocery store wines and allow people to sit and savor wine as it should be: slowly, in a beautiful setting.

The grounds offer a luscious a garden setting with a fountain made from the ring of a huge wine barrel. The property also produces Christmas trees and has 400 lavender plants. Konnie Serka said she plans to plant 300 more.

“We want people to stroll around the grounds and visit the vineyard,” she said. “We want them to enjoy the setting.”

The orchard is growing European grapes, like Cabernet Franc, Voignier, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Verison.

“Everyone’s telling me not to grow these grapes here,” Joe Serka said. “They want me to grow American hybrids. But I want a challenge. I want to make some good wine out of European grapes.”

He said the rainfall and climate here is the same as certain regions of France. In fact, we’re on the same latitude, he said.

“Hybrids will get ripe every year, and that’s good,” he said. “I know I’ll have some good years and some bad years. It’s not all about the money. At least, it’s not with me.”

The family produced wine from its raspberry orchard and even a few bottles from wild blackberries.

“I just wanted to see what it tasted like,” Joe Serka said. “I was out there on a hot summer day and picked 79 pounds of blackberries. It only made 3 gallons of wine.”

The wine will be made in small batches and sold only at the winery with the “Croation Family” label.

“My husband had to honor his Croatian family heritage,” she said. “He was born and raised in Gig Harbor. He used to fish with his uncles and cousins.”

At Sunday’s reception, the Croatians were out in full force, making the event more like a family reunion. Family members parked the cars, poured the wine and entertained. The Serkas’ daughter, Jaime Kinsey, worked hard behind the scenes in the kitchen, whipping up homemade mouth-watering chocolate truffles.

The visitors who were milling about the gardens, wine glasses in hand, bore family names like Ancich, Lovrovich and Markovich ­— names seen on street signs and plaques throughout Gig Harbor; names that belonged to some of the first settlers of the Maritime City.

“This is a wonderful addition to the community,” George Ancich said, looking out at the orchard. “It’s excellent wine made by excellent Croatian stock.”

“It’s absolutely wonderful,” Jack Tropiano added. “The raspberry wine was really pleasant. I took a walk through the whole vineyard. Joey and Konnie both just love nature.”

Charlie Kaperich, seated at a bistro-style table overlooking the garden, said he liked the Agria.

“It was real nice and full-bodied,” he said. “A little fuller than Merlot. I like Chardonnay, but red wine is a little more interesting.”

Konnie Serka set up a display of old family photos that proved to be a hit.

“There’s my dad,” said Mary Ann Lovrovich, pointing to a photo of a muscular man standing on the back of a fishing boat. “Doesn’t he look hunky?”

Joe Serka’s grandparents came to Gig Harbor in 1909. His father came later from Croatia, then Yugoslavia, fleeing World War II. Joe said he couldn’t speak English until he was 6 years old.

“There wasn’t any reason to,” he said. “We walked everywhere. There was no reason to drive. People delivered milk, cheese and eggs. We bought groceries on credit until the end of the fishing season.”

Konnie’s family also has a longtime footprint in the community. Her father, Kenneth Leo Marvin, recently had a park in Gig Harbor named after him. Joey and Konnie Serka went to grade school together and have known each other since they were children.

Joey remembers the days when the fishing fleet so dominated the community that, when the men were out at sea, the little harbor town basically belonged to the women and children.

There was one thing sons did with their fathers when they were in town: They made wine.

“It was one of the few things we’d do with our dads,” Joe Serka said. “They were either up fishing in Alaska or down in California.”

Now the family wants the community to get a taste of a natural winery right here in town. They’ll be selling Christmas trees and wreaths during the holidays and will be hosting art exhibits by local artists.

“We want this to be a place people can come and relax,” Konnie Serka said. “They can experience the vineyard, not just the tasting room. If we’re out picking grapes, they can pick grapes and crush them. If we’re out there, they can join us.”

Wine tasting

The Serka family vineyard will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays beginning Oct. 10 at 13176 Olalla Valley Road SE in Olalla.

For more information, call 253-851-4949 or visit www.olallavalleyvineyard.com.

Reach Lifestyles Coordinator and reporter Susan Schell at 253-853-9240 or by e-mail at susan.schell@gateline.com.