Introduction: Corvidae is the value-focused second label of Owen Roe Winery — one of the Pacific Northwest's most critically acclaimed producers, founded in 1999 by David and Angelica O'Reilly in Washington's Yakima Valley. The brand name pays homage to the crow family of birds (Latin: Corvidae), ubiquitous in eastern Washington's vineyards, and each wine takes its name from a different bird-related reference. "Mirth" draws from an old English nursery rhyme about magpies — "one for sorrow, two for mirth, three for a wedding, four for birth" — a fitting name for a wine designed to bring joy without pretense. The Mirth is Corvidae's unoaked Chardonnay, built around a clear philosophy: let the fruit, the terroir, and the acidity speak cleanly, without the interference of oak.

Terroir: The 2022 Mirth is sourced from the Yakima Valley — Owen Roe's home AVA and the first recognized wine-growing region in the Pacific Northwest, centrally located within Washington's vast Columbia Valley. The Yakima Valley's high desert climate — abundant sunshine, low humidity, and dramatic day-to-night temperature swings of 40–50°F during the growing season — delivers Chardonnay of natural freshness and aromatic precision. The volcanic and wind-deposited silt loam soils (Burke, Finley, Shano, and Scoon silt loams) drain well and retain enough warmth to achieve physiological ripeness while preserving the natural acidity that defines the region's white wines. Much of the fruit is drawn from Owen Roe's 280-acre LIVE-certified estate Outlook Vineyard.

Appearance: Pale to medium gold with green highlights and excellent clarity — bright, clean, and inviting in the glass.

Nose: Fresh and expressive from the start — pear, citrus blossom, and honeydew open a clean aromatic profile, followed by Golden Delicious apple, pineapple, Meyer lemon, and a subtle floral lift. The absence of oak is immediately apparent and entirely deliberate: what fills the glass is pure, unadulterated Chardonnay fruit with no toast, vanilla, or butter to compete with the vineyard's natural character. Crisp, precise, and genuinely appealing.

Palate: Vibrant and refreshing — green apple, peach, Meyer lemon, and tropical fruit carry through from the nose with mouthwatering acidity and a clean, lively texture. The stainless steel aging preserves freshness from entry to finish, delivering excellent purity of flavor and a balanced mouthfeel that never feels thin or austere. This is unoaked Chardonnay done with real care: it has all the fruit weight and texture you want without a gram of imposed wood character.

Finish: Bright, clean, and crisp — citrus and stone fruit fading through a refreshing, mineral-edged close of medium length. The finish is mouthwatering and encouraging of another sip.

Food Pairings:
🥩 Meat: Lemon roasted chicken with herbs, grilled halibut, or seared scallops with a citrus butter sauce
🥦 Vegetarian: Chanterelle herb frittata, mango avocado salad, or a lemon risotto with fresh peas and Parmesan
🧀 Charcuterie Board: Fresh chèvre, Brie, smoked salmon, cornichons, and sliced green apple

Overall Impression: The 2022 Corvidae Mirth is a textbook case for why unoaked Chardonnay deserves more shelf space: clean, precise, and genuinely food-friendly, with the natural freshness and fruit purity that Washington's Yakima Valley delivers at its best. It is built for the table and for immediate enjoyment — a wine that earns its name. Serve well-chilled at 46–50°F; drink now through 2025.

Alcohol by Volume (ABV %): 13%
Farming Practices: LIVE-certified sustainable farming (Outlook Vineyard); no herbicides or pesticides; strict yield controls; hand-harvested; minimal processing; gravity racking
Producer Name:Corvidae Wine Company / Owen Roe Winery (David O'Reilly, founder and winemaker; Wapato, Washington)
Old World / New World: New World
Country of Origin: USA
Region: Yakima Valley AVA, Columbia Valley, Washington State
Grape Varietals: Chardonnay 100%
Vintage: 2022
Wine Style: Dry White — Light-to-medium-bodied, unoaked, and crisp, with a fresh, fruit-forward Washington Chardonnay profile defined by stainless steel fermentation and the Yakima Valley's natural acidity. Designed for immediate enjoyment and exceptional food versatility.
Winemaking Techniques: Hand-harvested; 100% stainless steel fermentation and aging; no oak contact; no malolactic fermentation (verify); minimal processing; bottled in Prosser, WA to preserve freshness and varietal character
Pack Size: 750ml
Container Style: Glass bottle
Closure Style: Screwcap