Leonetti Cellar

Leonetti Cellar represents the founding moment of Walla Walla Valley as a serious wine region. Gary and Nancy Figgins bonded the winery in 1977, making it the first commercial winery in the valley. Gary, a self-taught machinist by trade, was inspired by the winemaking tradition of his grandparents, Francesco and Rosa Leonetti, Italian immigrants who established their family farm in Walla Walla in 1906 and fermented wine in the basement. With help from his uncles Bill and George Leonetti, Gary planted a single acre of Cabernet Sauvignon and a small plot of Riesling on a hillside overlooking that original homestead in 1974. The winery's name pays direct homage to that family legacy. Production commenced with the 1978 vintage, and within four years the 1978 Cabernet earned national recognition that transformed perceptions of Washington wine.

• Bonded in 1977 as Walla Walla Valley's first commercial winery; first vintage produced in 1978
• Named after Gary Figgins' grandparents, Francesco and Rosa Leonetti, who farmed in Walla Walla from 1906 onward
• First vineyard planted 1974 with Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling on the original Leonetti homestead, with uncles Bill and George Leonetti
• Gary Figgins was entirely self-taught in both grape growing and winemaking, working as a machinist while building the estate

Leonetti Cellar's cultural significance rests on single-handedly establishing the credibility of Washington red wine. When Gary Figgins bonded the winery in 1977, Washington's wine identity was built almost entirely around white varieties. The 1982 Wine and Spirits Magazine recognition of the 1978 Cabernet Sauvignon as the best in the nation was, as HistoryLink describes it, an industry-shaking moment for the entire Washington wine industry. The award catalyzed rapid development: Woodward Canyon, founded in 1981 by Figgins' childhood friend Rick Small, and L'Ecole No. 41, founded in 1983, quickly followed. Together, the founding wineries submitted the petition that earned Walla Walla Valley AVA status on February 6, 1984. Today the valley is home to more than 120 wineries. Gary and Nancy Figgins were jointly inducted into the Legends of Washington Wine Hall of Fame in 2019, and both also played a key role in establishing the Institute for Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College.

• 1978 Cabernet named best in the nation by Wine and Spirits Magazine in 1982 blind tasting; described as the most significant wine ever made in Washington
• Founding wineries Leonetti Cellar, Woodward Canyon, and L'Ecole No. 41 petitioned for and received Walla Walla Valley AVA status on February 6, 1984
• Walla Walla Valley now hosts more than 120 wineries; grew from essentially zero commercial viticulture in the early 1970s
• Gary and Nancy Figgins jointly inducted into the Legends of Washington Wine Hall of Fame in 2019; also instrumental in founding the Walla Walla Community College Institute for Enology and Viticulture

Leonetti Cellar's winemaking philosophy prioritizes restraint, patience, and a deep connection to specific estate sites. The harsh winter of 1996 severely damaged Walla Walla Valley vineyards and prompted Gary and Chris to pursue an estate-grown model, seeking out superior high-elevation sites to mitigate future freeze risk. Today, all fruit comes exclusively from the family's own Walla Walla Valley vineyards. The current wine lineup spans Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Reserve, Sangiovese, Aglianico, and a Single Vineyard Series. All wines undergo aging in a mix of new and once-filled French oak barrels for 15 to 22 months, with neutral vessels also used for some varietals. Total production is approximately 5,500 cases per year. Chris Figgins, who joined the winery after graduating from Washington State University with a degree in horticulture in 1996 and became head winemaker in 2001, is widely recognized for pushing viticulture forward with a focus on regenerative farming and soil health.

• Estate-grown model initiated after the damaging 1996 winter freeze; Leonetti now sources exclusively from its own Walla Walla Valley vineyard sites
• All wines aged 15 to 22 months in new and once-filled French oak barrels, with neutral vessels used for select varietals
• Production approximately 5,500 cases annually; wines sold exclusively through member mailing list allocation
• Chris Figgins joined Leonetti in 1996 with a WSU horticulture degree and became head winemaker in 2001; emphasis on regenerative farming and long-term soil health

The Cabernet Sauvignon is Leonetti's signature expression, a multi-site blend drawing from across the estate vineyards. The 2018 vintage, for example, was composed of 81 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 9 percent Merlot, 6 percent Cabernet Franc, 2 percent Malbec, and 2 percent Petit Verdot, aged 22 months in new and once-filled French oak. The Reserve, produced each vintage from only the best barrels, is Cabernet Sauvignon dominant and represents the pinnacle of the estate's output. The Merlot is grown in the cooler estate blocks to preserve natural acidity, yielding wines with intensely focused fruit and silky tannins. The Sangiovese aims to be among the finest expressions of that variety outside Tuscany. Aglianico, a tribute to the family's Calabrian roots, is planted at Serra Pedace Vineyard. A Single Vineyard Series, launched after the estate vineyards reached maturity, expresses the distinct terroir of individual blocks.

• Cabernet Sauvignon: flagship multi-site blend; 2018 vintage composed of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot; aged 22 months in French oak
• Reserve: Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend from the best barrels of each vintage; produced annually, not only in exceptional years
• Sangiovese and Aglianico: Italian-heritage varieties that reflect the Leonetti family's Calabrian roots; Aglianico planted at Serra Pedace Vineyard
• Single Vineyard Series: individual block expressions released to mailing list members as estate vineyards reached maturity

Leonetti manages five vineyard sites in the Walla Walla Valley AVA, each with distinct soils and microclimates. Loess Vineyard, acquired in 1999, sits on a hillside east of the winery on deep, well-drained silt loam and provides the backbone of the Bordeaux varietal wines. Mill Creek Upland, perched in the Blue Mountain foothills, was the first vineyard planted in that section of the valley and is prized for dramatic diurnal temperature swings that yield wines with power, density, and firm acidity. Leonetti Old Block, described as the oldest vineyard in Walla Walla Valley, produces distinctive Merlot from Onyx silt loam soil beside the winery. Serra Pedace, planted on a steep, east-facing hillside with shallow, rocky soils above Seven Hills Vineyard, is named after the Calabrian hometown of Francesco and Rosa Leonetti and yields wines of exceptional density and power. Holy Roller also features in the portfolio. Viticulture across all sites emphasizes cover crops, mechanical weed control, and a commitment to soil health and long-term sustainability.

• Loess Vineyard: acquired 1999; deep silt loam on hillside east of the winery; backbone of the Bordeaux varietal program
• Mill Creek Upland: Blue Mountain foothills; dramatic diurnal swings; first vineyard in its section of the valley; delivers power, density, and acidity
• Leonetti Old Block: described as oldest vineyard in Walla Walla Valley; Onyx silt loam; focused on distinctive Merlot
• Serra Pedace: steep east-facing hillside with shallow rocky soils; named after the Calabrian village of Francesco and Rosa Leonetti; home to Aglianico plantings

Leonetti wines hold a rarefied position in American wine collecting. The 1978 Cabernet Sauvignon, described by one writer as the most significant wine ever made in Washington, remains one of the most historically important bottles in domestic wine history. All current releases are available solely through the mailing list allocation system, with new members joining a waiting list. The winery has deliberately stayed small, at approximately 5,500 cases per year, resisting expansion in favor of quality. Under Chris Figgins, Figgins Family Wine Estates has expanded to include two sibling labels: FIGGINS, a single-vineyard estate brand focused on Bordeaux varieties from the 32-acre Figgins Estate Vineyard in the Blue Mountain foothills, and Toil Oregon, a small-production Willamette Valley brand in the Chehalem Mountains AVA focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Gary and Nancy, now semi-retired, remain strategic partners and continue involvement in vineyard projects across the valley.

• The 1978 Cabernet Sauvignon is considered the most historically significant wine ever made in Washington; available only on the secondary market in extreme scarcity
• All wines sold exclusively through member allocation; new applicants join a waiting list, with no public retail or tasting room access
• Figgins Family Wine Estates now comprises Leonetti Cellar, FIGGINS (single-vineyard Bordeaux from 32-acre Figgins Estate Vineyard), and Toil Oregon (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Chehalem Mountains AVA)
• Gary and Nancy Figgins are semi-retired but remain strategic partners; Chris (CEO and winemaking director) and Amy (operations and member program) lead the estate