Orr Wines Old Vine Columbia Valley Chenin Blanc
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Once an important part of Washington State’s viticulture history, Chenin Blanc is somewhat of an endangered species.
- Orr Wines Chenin Blanc is sourced from two vineyards in the Columbia Valley, Upland and Roza Hills.
- These vineyards have original own rooted Chenin Blanc from the 1970s & 1980s.
Varietal: 100% Chenin Blanc
Elaboration: Both vineyards were hand-harvested separately and the grapes were whole cluster pressed. The juices settled in tank over night and then racked to a variety of old oak barrels and stainless steel drums where the wines fermented naturally with native yeast. The blend was assembled, lightly fined with bentonite clay and then sterile filtered before bottling in American made glass under TCA- free corks.
Tasting Notes: Green-gold in color with aromas of honeydew melon and pear and straw. It’s fresh, crisp, and dry with a clean mineral finish.
PRESS
2019 – 91 Vinous
2021 – 92 Owen Bargreen
2023 – 93 Owen Bargreen
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
At a bar in San Francisco in 1998, Erica Orr met winemaker Aaron Pott who convinced her that winemaking was the coolest job in the world. She took a vacation from her lab tech job at UCSF to work harvest with Cathy Corison while applying to the master’s program at Davis. She was hooked and there was no turning back.
Erica honed her craft working at some of the best wineries in the world: Rudd Estate, Cain Vineyard, Domaine Dujac and Yering Station. In 2005, she moved to Washington state and started an independent winemaking consulting and enology business in Woodinville, where she helped wineries like Baer, Mark Ryan, Guardian, Sparkman and others rack up 90+ point scores and now two Spectator Top 100 wines. In 2013, Erica decided the time had come to create a wine all her own. The inaugural and limited release of Orr Wines − 116 cases of old vine Chenin Blanc − came into being with the generous help and goodwill of the Woodinville winemaking community.