menu
Many of you know that Leonetti Cellar was founded by my parents, Gary and Nancy Figgins, in 1977 as Walla Walla’s first commercial winery. What is far less understood is that the presence of our family in Walla Walla spans over a century long into the deep silt loam of this valley. My father was incredibly fortunate to know his grandparents, Francesco and Rosa Leonetti, quite well. I grew up making weekend trips the short distance down the old dirt road to the Leonetti farm they established in 1906. This is the same site where, with a few cuttings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling, my father would come to plant his first commercial vineyard in 1974 and unknowingly establish an entire industry for our valley. Building off the inspiration he gleaned from his grandfather’s bubbling fermentations on the farm’s dirt floor basement, the only logical thing to do to honor his family’s roots would be to name the winery Leonetti Cellar. Through these experiences I acquired a certain perspective and reverence for our family heritage that guides me to this day.
Chris Figgins
Rooted in the Walla Walla Valley for over a hundred years
VIEW TIME LINE
FIGGINS FAMILY
1901
Rosalina Fazzari arrives in Walla Walla, WA immigrating from Serra Pedace, Calabria, Italy
1906
Frank and Rose purchase a distressed parcel of land in which to farm
1905
Frank and Rose marry in Walla Walla after an “arranged” courting period
2000
Current production facility on the Leonetti Estate is built with three barrel caves
1978
Leonetti Cellar’s first commercial vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon & Riesling is produced from the grapes harvested from the Leonetti homestead
1973
Gary and Rick Small are based in California for Army Reserve service and begin making trips to Wine Country
1943
Virginia Leonetti marries Berle Figgins (Gary’s father) in Walla Walla
1981
Wine & Spirits Magazine recognizes 1978 Leonetti Cabernet as the best in the nation in a blind tasting
1975
Gary and Nancy purchase current winery property and convert the tiny horse tack shed into a winery
1995
A perfect higher elevation south facing site is purchased that will later become Mill Creek Upland Vineyard
1902
Francesco Leonetti arrives in Walla Walla, WA immigrating from Serra Pedace, Calabria, Italy
2000
Land adjacent to Leonetti Cellar estate is purchased and will become Loess Vineyard
1977
Gary and Nancy bond Leonetti Cellar as Walla Walla’s first winery
1968
Gary marries Nancy Cosgrove
1995
First Leonetti Sangiovese produced
1922
Gary Figgins’ mother, Virginia Leonetti, youngest of the six Leonetti children, is born in Walla Walla
2002
Loess Vineyard is planted
1980
First Leonetti Merlot is produced from the Leonetti Old Block
1996
winter
After a Winter freeze severely damages Walla Walla Valley vineyards, Gary and Chris embark on a quest to convert to an estate-grown model and locate superior vineyard sites to mitigate potential winter damage
1974
Gary, along with his two uncles, George and Bill Leonetti, plant Cabernet and Riesling on a south facing parcel of the original Leonetti homestead
1948
Gary Figgins is born
1973
Gary begins hobby winemaking in his basement
1976
Leonetti Old Block Merlot, the first Walla Walla Valley vineyard, is planted on the current estate property
1980
McClellan and Hendricks families establish the famed Seven Hills Vineyard
1984
Construction begins on the old stone winery building
1996
Chris Figgins, Gary and Nancy’s son, graduates from Washington State University with a degree in horticulture and joins the family business
1997
Leonetti acquires partnership in Seven Hills Vineyard
1997
Mill Creek Upland Vineyard planted and Seven Hills Vineyard expanded
2001
Chris assumes reins as head winemaker for Leonetti Cellar
2007
Amy Figgins, Gary and Nancy’s daughter, joins the winery after a long stint in corporate America
2010
Serra Pedace Vineyard, paying homage to the Leonetti’s ancestral home, is planted above Seven Hills Vineyard in SeVein Vineyards of Distinction
2004
winter
A winter arctic freeze blasts Walla Walla Valley vineyards with very low temps—new vineyards survive
2018
Leonetti releases Aglianico—first new varietal since 1995, and an homage to our southern Italian roots
2011
Gary and Nancy semi-retire and Chris assumes role of President and Director of Winemaking
menu