Orr Wines

Posted on by

Erica Orr and Tim JohnsonWe recently tasted the exciting lineup of Erica Orr Wines at Seifert & Jones in Bellingham, our favorite local wine shop. And we finally met Erica, whom we’ve know about for years but somehow hadn’t met before. In 2005, Erica started an enology business, running a wine lab to help WA winemakers in Woodinville. And while she still helps them, she also decided to create her own wines in 2013. Tim Johnson, a WA wine expert who works at S&J, joined Erica to pour her delightful wines, which have a wonderful QPR. Read on for our faves.

Orr Wines 2024 Old Vine Chenin Blanc ($25)

Orr Wines Chenin BlancOrr Wines 2024 Old Vine Chenin Blanc is one of the best we’ve tasted –  apples, pears, and citrus, textured, and threaded with minerality and salinity. It’s layered, complex, and bursting with delicious, refreshing flavors.This 100% Chenin Blanc is Erica Orr’s 12th vintage since she started her eponymous label in 2013. As you can see in the photo, we brought some home. So good!

2023 Salumeria Red Blend ($25)

Orr Wines 2023 SalumeriaErica also poured this joyous 2023 Salumeria – the name means a traditional Italian deli and cured meat shop. Erica told us she has a Berkel flywheel meat slicer in her wine lab in Woodinville, and she discovered this red blend pairs very well with cured meats. Hence, the name. Erica combined 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Sangiovese, and 8% Merlot from Stillwater Creek and Boushey vineyards, and the result is amazing. This wine sings – way higher than its $25 price point.

Orr Wines 2022 Royal Slope Red Blend ($26)

Royal Slope Red Blend ArtWe also tasted Orr Wines 2022 Royal Slope Red Blend — 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a rich, beautiful wine showcasing dark fruits and chocolate. Yum! Not only is this Royal Slope Red Blend tasty, but it is also important to note that all proceeds are donated to help fund healthcare for Columbia Valley vineyard workers. The eye-catching art on the label is by Yakima printmaker Christie Tirado and based on a photo Erica took of a crew harvesting her fruit. Cheers to an standout wine that makes a difference.

Summary

In conclusion, Erica Orr crafts outstanding wine at a remarkable QPR. We can’t believe we hadn’t tasted her wines before. However, we can guarantee that we will again, and again.

Meanwhile, find us on Instagram, Facebook,, Threads, and of course, here, at Write for Wine – It’s Wine O’Clock Somewhere.

Cheers!
Margot and Dave

This entry was posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, Columbia Valley, Merlot, Sangiovese, Washington, Wine, Woodinville by Margot. Bookmark the permalink.

About Margot

Margot started writing about wine decades ago as a national journalist in Canada and the U.S. She and Dave created this website in 2007. Originally, the website introduced people to wines in Washington state, the second-largest wine region in the U.S. But over the years, the site expanded to feature other wine regions in the U.S., Canada, and in the world. If you like to read about standout wine and winery stories, then Write for Wine is for you.