There aren’t many states in the Union with a better selection of both wine and cigars than Washington. For those who enjoy their grape juice fermented, Washington has more than 36,000 acres of grapes under cultivation. Washington is most known for its Cabernet Savignon and Merlot. The bigger wineries, like Arbor Crest, are quite successful with Riesling and Chardonnay as well. The Riesling in particular is famous for Washington’s penchant for late-harvest dry wines to accompany a wide array of dinner foods. Not surprisingly, wine culture is pretty established in Washington. Other than the obvious winery tours, wine lovers won’t have difficulty finding a wine bar in any of the major metropolitan areas.
As for those stogies, Washington state does have one of the most draconian bans of public smoking in the country. That may change, however, when the Cigar Association of Washington finishes their publicity campaign. Unfortunately, Washington also has a pretty hefty cigar tax. Without being able to light up outside your own home, you might be better off trying an electronic cigar. These devices will still give you the nicotine rush and flavor of a cigar, but without the actual smoking of tobacco. There are plenty of humidors and smoke shops throughout Washington, though. If you’re willing to pay the extra tax and not smoke in public, the state actually has a healthier cigar trade than most.