Owen Roe Abbot's Table Red Blend

Owen Roe Abbot's Table Red Blend is a multi-varietal Columbia Valley red wine bottled at 14.1% ABV in a standard 750ml format. What distinguishes this blend is founder David O'Reilly's decision to discontinue standalone Zinfandel and Sangiovese bottlings, redirecting those grapes exclusively into Abbot's Table to build a more complex, uncompromising cuvée.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.1%  |  Origin: Columbia Valley, Washington  |  Red Blend  |  Producer: Owen Roe Winery

Production & Heritage

Owen Roe is the project of veteran winemaker David O'Reilly, who sources fruit from vineyards across Washington's Columbia Valley — one of the state's most expansive and climatically diverse AVAs. The Abbot's Table blend shifts from vintage to vintage, but the 2021 release comprises 38% Sangiovese, 28% Zinfandel, 18% Blaufränkisch, 10% Grenache, and 6% Malbec. Fermentation takes place in neutral French oak, allowing varietal character and fruit expression to take center stage rather than heavy oak influence. The inclusion of Blaufränkisch — still relatively uncommon in American blends — adds a structural backbone and spice dimension rarely found at this level.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark currants and blueberry rise immediately from the glass, followed by ripe cherry and a thread of jammy red fruit. Give it a moment and secondary notes of white pepper, tobacco leaf, and dried herbs emerge.

Taste: The entry is generous and fruit-forward, with blackberry and dark plum flavors taking the lead. Mid-palate, roasted red pepper and earthy spice weave through a lattice of gentle, gripping tannins. Acidity is bright and well-calibrated, keeping the ripe fruit in check and driving the wine toward a savory core.

Finish: The finish runs long and smoky, with lingering notes of leather, earth, and dark stone fruit. Tannins resolve smoothly, leaving a velvety texture that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Abbot's Table

This is a food-friendly red at heart, so a slight chill to around 60–65°F brings its acidity and fruit into sharper focus. It drinks well on its own but truly shines at the table. For cocktail-adjacent serves: use it in a classic Sangria, where its dark fruit and spice hold up against citrus and brandy; try it in a Kalimotxo (red wine and cola), where the blend's earthiness creates surprising depth; or serve it as the base of a Red Wine Spritzer with sparkling water for a lighter warm-weather pour.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners where versatile food pairing matters
• Introducing adventurous drinkers to unconventional Washington blends
• Hosting an Italian-themed dinner party
• Gifting a wine lover who appreciates Sangiovese and Zinfandel

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Abbot's Table taste like? Abbot's Table delivers ripe blackberry, dark cherry, and plum flavors laced with roasted red pepper, white pepper spice, and earthy tobacco. Bright acidity and velvety tannins give it balance and a long, smoky finish.

How does Abbot's Table compare to Columbia Crest Grand Estates Red Blend? Both hail from Columbia Valley, but their blending philosophies differ significantly — Grand Estates leans on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for a more classically structured Washington profile. Abbot's Table centers on Sangiovese and Zinfandel with Blaufränkisch, producing a more Mediterranean-leaning, spice-driven wine.

Is Abbot's Table good for pairing with food? Absolutely — the wine's bright acidity, moderate tannins, and savory spice character make it one of the more versatile food-pairing reds from Columbia Valley. It performs especially well with tomato-based dishes, grilled meats, and charcuterie.

Where is Abbot's Table made? Abbot's Table is produced by Owen Roe Winery using fruit sourced from vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington State. The Columbia Valley spans a vast, semi-arid growing region in eastern Washington known for warm days, cool nights, and diverse soil types.

What foods pair well with Abbot's Table? Grilled Italian sausage works naturally with the Sangiovese component's acidity and herbal spice. Wood-fired pizza with roasted vegetables mirrors the wine's earthy, smoky notes. Braised lamb shanks complement the blend's dark fruit and leather character. Hard aged cheeses like Pecorino Romano echo its savory finish. Eggplant Parmesan bridges both the wine's fruit richness and its tomato-friendly acidity.

What sizes does Abbot's Table come in? Owen Roe Abbot's Table Red Blend is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Abbot's Table worth the price? Abbot's Table positions as a mid-range red blend that punches above its weight, particularly given the deliberate decision to sacrifice two standalone varietal wines in order to elevate this single cuvée. For drinkers exploring Washington reds beyond Cabernet Sauvignon, it represents strong value in a category crowded with formulaic blends.

Why Abbot's Table?

The story behind this wine is its strongest calling card: David O'Reilly discontinued two successful single-varietal programs — his Zinfandel and Sangiovese — specifically to funnel the best fruit into Abbot's Table. That kind of deliberate sacrifice is rare in commercial winemaking. The blend's use of Blaufränkisch alongside Sangiovese and Zinfandel gives it a structural identity that few American red blends can claim. With an 87-point rating from Wine Enthusiast and consistent community scores in the high 80s on CellarTracker, this is a wine that has earned a quiet but loyal following among drinkers who value originality over convention.