If you have not yet taken the stunning drive out to Carnation, WA to visit Orenda Winery, you seriously must make this a summer calendar date! We visited recently and met with owners/winemakers Samantha and Xander Kent. Samantha, gorgeously expecting their first child, gave us an incredible tour of the grounds, while Zander showcased a piece of honeycomb from the bees he keeps.
In order to share with you everything that Orenda Winery has to offer, I have split this post into two parts. This post will focus on the wines and tasting room. My second post will feature more on the historic farm estate’s breathtaking amenities and wedding event. spaces.
We took a field trip and ventured outside of Woodinville wine country and met up at Ordenda Winery in Carnation, Washington. We were seated outside on this bright and airy deck and enjoyed our tasting lineup, while chatting with Samantha and Xander. We learned that as the Summer season comes into full swing, the front lawn is filled with gorgeous flowers that make the perfect backdrop for wedding ceremonies.
We started our tasting off with a pour of the 2020 Reisling. It is a refreshing white wine with notes of Meyer Lemon that would be a great summer patio/picnic option. Next, we tasted this 2020 Pinot Gris; a dry and refreshing white wine with a touch of sweetness. I think it would make a delightful pairing with many lighter summer fare dishes, such as salads and seafood. This one would also make a great hostess gift for a picnic or barbeque.
This rose is a GSM (Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre) blend, with the skins removed immediately after crushing. I love how the color of this Rose pops against the pretty circular wine label. This label was designed by artist, Gregory Euclide. The word, Orenda means: The balance of energy between all things. This gorgeous and unique label gives a nod to the winery’s commitment to the environment and to the cycle of nature that is needed to support a wine from grape to glass.
Shortly after our visit, we heard the exciting news that Orenda’s 2018 Sangiovese won Best of Class/Gold at the 2021 Cascadia International Wine Competition. We loved this bold Sangiovese as well as the Cabernet Franc.
Isn’t this a stunning space? This is the tasting room that doubles as a reception/event space. There is a beautiful photo on the Orenda website which captures it as a wedding reception venue. Check that out, here!
I will visit Orenda again in the next month or so and post on one of our other social media platforms ( Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest) just so that I can capture and share some photos of this lovely landscape and all of the looking flowers.
It’s wedding season once again, and this is a perfect place to host your venue. It is located about 25 minutes from Bellevue and 15 minutes from Issaquah, on 32305 NE 8th St, Carnation, WA.
The winery is open for tastings Saturdays and Sundays from 1-5 or by appointment.
Cheers!
~Jen
Resources:
Orenda Winery Website
Orenda Winery Instagram
Orenda Winery on Facebook
