The Orcas Project Beginnings
The Orcas Project took three business models and smashed them into one. The first was Long Shadows Vintners here in Washington. How incredible to have an entire stable of winemakers making wine for one concept? Everyone has a specialty and it stays dynamic and fun.
Each winemaker has a different illustration associated with them. Each year, we work together build a wine from a certain grapes, vineyards, and blends.
An Identity From Across the Globe
The other concepts we followed closely are the negociants in France and the mezcaleros in Oaxaca. Like the negociants, we are free to work with many vineyards. This allows us to purchase grapes and wine that we think is delicious.
Like the mezcaleros, we credit each producer on the back of our bottle and hope to highlight their work and abilities. We are proud to share information about The Orcas Project partnerships and it shows in the wines.
Orcas Island is Who We Are
Our home will always be Orcas Island. For this endeavor we’ve enlisted artists we grew up with (and several others). We also work closely with restaurants throughout the San Juan Island’s- some of which we even worked at years ago.
We live here and, although we still travel regularly, this is where our heart is.
Most days you can find us at the shop or tasting room. If we’re not there maybe we are out crabbing with our family or relaxing in our tiny house out in Doe Bay. Everything started, and will end, here on the island.
I was born and raised in Doe Bay and graduated from Orcas Island High School. I moved to Seattle where I attended the University of Washington and majored in Political Science. After college, I moved to Vail Colorado where I started training to be a sommelier. It was an exciting career that took me all over the country and the world, culminating in a position as the head sommelier for Michael Mina at the Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas.
Before starting Doe Bay Wine Company and The Orcas Project, I also worked as a harvest intern with Bob Betz in Woodinville and as the National Sales and Marketing Manager for Bodegas Ontañon in Rioja, Spain.
It has been a great ride and I’m still having fun. I look forward to you coming to Orcas to learn more.
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