Saviah Cellars

Richard and Anita Funk founded Saviah Cellars in 2000 in the heart of the Walla Walla Valley of southeastern Washington. Both natives of Montana, the Funks moved to Walla Walla in 1991. Saviah is a family name from Anita's great-grandmother, a schoolteacher, artist and author who settled in western Montana in the early 1900s, and The Jack family of wines is named after Anita's great-grandfather. The family's heritage also appears in the Star Meadows White Wine, named after the location of the original family homestead, and in the Big Sky Cuvée, named in honor of the family's Montana roots. Richard and Anita Funk own Saviah. The first commercial vintage was just 300 cases. The winery's own figures for current output differ: its history page gives an average of 25,000 cases per year, its winemaker page 28,000 cases.

• Founded in 2000 by Richard and Anita Funk, both natives of Montana, who moved to Walla Walla in 1991
• Saviah: family name from Anita's great-grandmother; The Jack: named after Anita's great-grandfather
• Star Meadows White Wine is named after the location of the original family homestead; Big Sky Cuvée honors the family's Montana roots
• First commercial vintage of 300 cases; current output given as 25,000 cases (average, history page) and 28,000 cases (winemaker page)

Richard Funk's interest in fermentation began while he was studying microbiology at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. After the move to Walla Walla, he worked as an Environmental Health Specialist with the Walla Walla County Health Department, where he became acquainted with the local wineries as he helped them work through issues of water quality and wastewater management. He is a self-taught winemaker with an extensive background in chemistry and microbiology. He served as the winemaker for Watermill Winery from 2006 to 2009 and for àMaurice winery from 2005 to 2006. Richard Funk is Founder/Director of Winemaking, Tom Adolfae is Production Winemaker, and Jared Funk is Winemaker/Viticulturist.

• Studied microbiology at Montana State University in Bozeman
• Former Environmental Health Specialist with the Walla Walla County Health Department
• Winemaker for Watermill Winery (2006-2009) and àMaurice winery (2005-2006)
• Team: Richard Funk, Founder/Director of Winemaking; Tom Adolfae, Production Winemaker; Jared Funk, Winemaker/Viticulturist

Saviah's fruit comes mainly from the Walla Walla Valley, including estate vineyards in The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. The estate vineyards are Anna Marie, Dugger Creek, Funk Estate, McClellan, Saviah Estate, Stones Speak Estate, and Watermill. Anna Marie Vineyard was planted in 2001, followed by McClellan Estate Vineyard in 2003, Funk Estate Vineyard in 2007, Dugger Creek Vineyard in 2009, and Stones Speak Estate vineyard in 2016. Funk Estate, Stones Speak Estate, and Watermill lie in The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, while Anna Marie and Dugger Creek are on the south side of the Walla Walla Valley AVA in Oregon. McClellan Vineyard grows Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. Saviah also works with partner vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley and Columbia Valley, including Pepper Bridge, Stillwater Creek, and Summit View.

• Anna Marie (planted 2001): Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Malbec; 925-1125 feet
• Dugger Creek (planted 2009): Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sangiovese, Barbera, Grenache; 800-850 feet
• Stones Speak Estate (planted 2016, The Rocks District): Syrah, Tempranillo, Viognier
• Watermill (The Rocks District): Cabernet Franc, Mourvedre, Syrah, Tempranillo; 880-900 feet

The Funk Estate Vineyard is in The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater on the south side of the Walla Walla Valley AVA in Oregon. Its soils are very deep and excessively drained, formed in basaltic alluvium mixed with loess at the surface, with a large fraction of basalt cobbles. The site sits near the apex of the alluvial fan at an elevation of 965 feet (959-969 feet across the vineyard) and is considered the warmer area of The Rocks District. It is planted to 5 acres of Syrah (Joseph Phelps clone) and 5 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, with planting years of 2007 and 2017, and it is certified LIVE and Salmon Safe. Three wines come from the site: The Funk Estate Syrah, The Funk Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, and The Funk Hunt & Gather Red Wine.

• The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, Walla Walla Valley AVA, Oregon
• 5 acres of Syrah (Joseph Phelps clone) and 5 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon; planted 2007 and 2017
• Elevation 959-969 feet; average annual precipitation 11 inches
• Certified LIVE and Salmon Safe

Saviah groups its wines into four collections. The Classic Collection draws on vineyards in the Walla Walla and Columbia Valley appellations, the Estate Collection is made from 100% estate-grown grapes, and the Reserve Collection is bottled from specially selected barrels. The winery presents The Jack wines as delivering "exceptional quality, remarkable value, and everyday drinkability." The 2024 The Jack Red Wine and the 2022 The Jack Cabernet Sauvignon both carry the Columbia Valley appellation. On house style, Saviah states that sourcing fruit from multiple locations lets it create wines "characterized by elegance, balance, and superb structure."

• Classic Collection: vineyards in the Walla Walla and Columbia Valley appellations
• Estate Collection: 100% estate-grown grapes, including THE FUNK Estate Syrah, THE FUNK Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Hunt & Gather Red Wine, and The Stones Speak Syrah
• Reserve Collection: specially selected barrels; Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Reserve Syrah
• The Jack: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Red Wine, Riesling, Rose, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah

Primary sources (producer's own site): https://www.saviahcellars.com/about/our-history/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/about/our-team/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/about/winemaker/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/vineyards/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/vineyards/estate-vineyards/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/vineyards/estate-vineyards/funk-estate-vineyard/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/vineyards/estate-vineyards/anna-marie/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/vineyards/estate-vineyards/dugger-creek/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/vineyards/estate-vineyards/watermill-estate/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/vineyards/partner-vineyards/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/wine/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/wine/estate/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/wine/reserve/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/wine/classic/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/wine/the-jack/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/wine/estate/2023-syrah-funk/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/wine/estate/2023-hunt-gather-red-wine/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/wine/the-jack/2024-the-jack-red-wine/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/wine/the-jack/2024-the-jack-sauvignon-blanc/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/wine/the-jack/2022-jack-cabernet-sauvignon/, https://www.saviahcellars.com/wine/estate/2022-syrah-stones-speak/. Secondary sources: https://www.decanter.com/wine/washington/this-is-syrah-will-become-washingtons-defining-red-wine/. Last verified 2026-10-12. Where the producer's site and a secondary source disagree, the producer's site governs.