Our Story

The story that inspired our wine

Samantha and I met salsa dancing shortly before I joined the Peace Corps in 2010. Despite years apart we maintained a connection; I developed a passion for beekeeping and the environment while living in West Africa. Samantha continued her studies in chemistry and developed a love of flavors and expression. Ten years and ten thousand miles later, we discovered a life together and a connection with the Snoqualmie Valley community. Alveare (‘beehive’ in Latin) represents this connection to both the community and the natural environment.

As we continued to make wine, we fell in love with the idea of having each wine tell a story about our life, farm, and community through the use of imagery and even the flavors in the wine. We took a leap and changed our name and label in 2023 when we found Sarah Caisey whose talent helped our stories take life on the label. This has brought us to the current day, where we create wine one grape, drawing, and story at a time. It is our hope you can sit down, enjoy the wine and learn about the story that inspired it.

 Meet the Team

Samantha Kent – Owner/ Winemaker

Romance, happy coincidences, an understanding of science and a lifelong appreciation for art, food, and wine led to Samantha’s work as Winemaker. It was a non-linear career path – including living abroad in Germany, publishing research in neurology and geriatrics and eventually attending medical school. But after eight years of studying and doctoral research, she felt out of balance. She paused and made the difficult decision to abandon her career in medicine and take a leap of faith. Ultimately, she found a connection to a community she now calls home.

Xander Kent – Owner/ Beekeeper-Winemaker

In 2011 Xander came to terms with his fear of bees after he requested to work as a beekeeping trainer while in Africa serving in the Peace Corps. Working to overcome his fears, Xander gained an appreciation for bees’ ability to create balance in nature. Continuing his passion for the environment, Xander holds graduate degrees in business and environment with a continuing career in corporate sustainability. Now supporting Alveare, Xander is humbled to help create a space dedicated to bees, friends, community engagement, and good wine. He hopes people find the same peace and joy from Alveare as he does.

The Bees

35% of all food you eat is dependent on a bee. Like Alveare (beehives in Latin) suggests, our bees are outstanding community members bringing pollination to our neighbors’ farms. If you prefer something sweeter than wine, we carry small jars of honey made on the property in our tasting area. Each teaspoon of honey is over 3 thousand flowers pollinated and is the life’s work of 12 bees. Honey, just like wine… is liquid sunshine.

The Label

We meditate on every wine’s story and tie it to something in our lives or in our community. When we find a story we want to tell we work with Sarah to make it into a work of art for the label. Learn more about her work at https://www.caiseycrafts.com/

 Awards

Prior to 2023, Alveare Winery was known as Orenda Winery, and while our name has changed, our commitment to excellence in winemaking has remained.

Voted 2022 Best Winery on the Eastside

“A love of science, art, and nature is what brought Xander and Samantha Kent together to form Orenda Winery. Orenda partners with some of the highest-elevation vineyards in the state to make wines with unique and complex flavors. With a focus on the gifts of nature, Orenda’s labels feature a circular image representing the cycle of nature needed to support a wine from grape to glass.”
– 425 Magazine

2020 Washington Winery to Watch

“Success came rather quickly last year for Xander and Samantha Kent as Orenda Winery attracted attention with one of the Pacific Northwest’s most decorated examples of Cabernet Franc released in 2019. … And now, less than a year after selling its first bottle of wine, Orenda Winery has been named Wine Press Northwest’s 2020 Washington Winery to Watch.”
– Wine Press NW

2025 Best of the Snoqualmie Valley

“Best Winery” & “Best Happy Hour”

Best of 425 “Best Winery”

Alveare Winery has been recognized as Best Winery by 425 Magazine three years running, in 2024, 2025, and 2026.