A team of the best
winemakers
What *is* the orcas project?
We partner with ten winemakers from around the Pacific Northwest.
Each has their own style and micro-project.
A specialty.
We looked at Long Shadows winery, the negociants of Burgundy, and the Mezcal industry in Oaxaca for inspiration when putting together our little project. This creates a diverse approach and ensures there is always something for everyone.
Rock Fish
Chad & Bree Stock
Chad and Bree Stock of LTD+ are two of the most exciting winemakers in the country and leading the pack with their experimental plantings. We started working with Chad back in 2016 and Bree joined a few years later.
Chad is a UC Davis graduate, Bree is a Master of Wine and together they work with varietals throughout the Willamette Valley including Mencia, Grüner Veltliner, Arneis and Trosseau. It’s always a surprise with these two!
the crab
Morgan Lee
Morgan originally hails from Indiana but moved to Washington after college and never looked back. He’s the owner of Two Vintners winery and we’ve had countless adventures over the years. He’s currently making us a Grenache Blanc.
Morgan personally puts our wines in the back of his pickup truck and drives them up to the island at least once a year. And he also loves Mezcal. The fun never stops!
Frida & Diego
kate Norris & TOm monroe
Tom and Kate are testing the boundaries in Oregon, Washington and beyond. Co-owners of Division Wine Co. in Portland they’ve always got something fermenting natively in their barrels.
We produce a Gamay Noir (they both trained in Beaujolais) and often times a skin contact white as well. Tiny production, sometimes less than 30 cases, these wines are a treat if you can find them..
THe Raccoon
Javier Alfonso
Señor Javier Alfonso is originally from Spain and an aerospace engineer by trade. He’s an old friend of Cole’s and was the first winemaker for our project back in 2017. He’s the owner of Pomum Cellars and one incredible individual.
Javier has been tasked with making wines using Spanish varietals grown in Washington. His deft touch with Albariño, Tempranillo, Graciano and Garnacha brings our vision together.
The Deer
Chris Peterson
Chris was at Delille Cellars for more than a decade and now co-owns Avennia. He’s a rockstar in the Washington wine world (along with The Orcas Project he makes Passing time for Dan Marino and Rick Mirer, no big deal..)
With access to some of the top vineyards in the state (Red Willow, Boushey, etc) we love working with Chris to produce red Bordeaux and Rhone style blends. These wines really shine after a couple of years in the cellar.
The Octopus
Riley Miller
Riley is one of the newer members of our winemaking crew and we’re lucky to have him as he’s busy with his own winery (Sonder) and managing vineyards in Eastern Washington.
Having worked at iconic properties around the world (Bergstrom, Kosta Browne, etc) he’s been focusing on Italian varietals with us and we’ve been playing with Nebbiolo and Barbera rosé.
The owl
Doug Tunnell
Doug owns Brick House in Newberg Oregon and is one of the most respected winemakers in the universe. His accomplishments with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay Noir are legendary.
If we’re lucky we make one barrel a year with Doug and his Assistant winemaker Savannah. In 2021 we ended up with beautiful, Burgundian Chardonnay from their biodynamically farmed estate vineyard. 18 cases! Get them if you can.
The Prawn
Andrew Smith
Andrew and Cole have known each other since their early 20’s when they working in the Seattle restaurant industry. Andrew later moved to Oregon where he made wines at Shea Cellars, Soter and Antiquum Farm and we visited as often as possible.
Chenin Blanc and Pinot Noir have been the most recent projects and they’re both beautiful. Andrew recently started his own consulting company, FallBright Solutions, and we wish him well!
The otter
Aaron Lieberman
Aaaron was our first winemaker in Oregon where he works with vineyards around the Southern Willamette Valley. A graduate of OSU, and head winemaker at Iris Vineyards, he’s an exacting and meticulous professional.
We’ve produced a number of wines with Aaron but our Pinot Gris and Blanc de Blancs have been stealing the show of late. Crisp, bright acidity is his trademark.
The Rabbit
Travis Maple
Travis has been working in the industry since he started at Chateau Ste. Michelle at 19 years old. He worked at Bookwalter for 11 years and then joined Airfield Estates as winemaker.
Travis has a fantastic pallet and is brilliant at blending. We work with him on Bordeaux and Rhone blends, Sangiovese and Chardonnay when we can get it. The wines are always balanced with great fruit.
