{"id":69,"name":"Leonetti Cellar","image_url":"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/gps-cs-s/AC9h4npeVL99_BYxAm8hobVpn2zegmzMOmOFcmcIIEG_jEa0qIfCAgyj3xxO2kkrksjnLJNc5OtcDL7PVvwBxW72ZdBGeyq7vTj34nlUp_O__jxQJXLv9bkrkyCG__2lK8PRaRGbpMSe=w408-h306-k-no","district":"East","hours":"No Tasting Location","hours_type":"limited","dog_friendly":false,"red_wine":true,"white_wine":false,"bubbles":false,"brewery":false,"woman_owned":false,"year_established":1977,"winemaker":"Chris Figgins","website":"http://www.leonetticellar.com/","phone":"(509) 525-1428","address":"1278 Berney Dr, Walla Walla, WA 99362","description":"Since 1977, the Figgins family has crafted world‑class wines; now led by siblings Chris and Amy, Leonetti continues to set the standard for Walla Walla excellence","lat":46.0569052,"lng":-118.2892993,"appt_url":null,"walk_in":false,"tasting_fee":null,"explorer_tags":[],"profile":"# Leonetti Cellar — Knowledge Profile\n\n## Founding Story\n\nLeonetti Cellar holds a singular distinction in Washington State wine history: founded in 1977, it is recognized as Walla Walla Valley's first winery. The winery is family-owned and describes itself as a pioneer that shaped the very foundation of Washington's wine industry. The founding vision was rooted in passion, perseverance, and an uncompromising pursuit of excellence — principles the family describes as guiding every decision since the winery's establishment. Leonetti characterizes itself as a fourth-generation stewardship operation, meaning the land and its cultivation have been a family commitment across multiple generations. The winery's overarching mission centers on producing estate-grown wines that embody the character and soul of the Walla Walla region, and on creating opportunities through those wines to share and celebrate life's meaningful occasions.\n\n## Winemaker\n\nThe winemaker currently listed for Leonetti Cellar is **Chris Figgins**. Beyond his name and his association with the winery — including a dedicated Instagram presence — the scraped content does not provide additional biographical detail, formal training background, or an extended statement of winemaking philosophy. He is implicitly positioned as a continuation of the family's multigenerational legacy.\n\n## Vineyard Sources\n\nLeonetti Cellar farms multiple estate vineyards, all described under a philosophy that places soil health at the center of viticulture. The winery identifies **six named vineyards**: Mill Creek Upland, Loess, Leonetti Old Block, Holy Roller, Serra, and Pedace. All are presented as estate properties, consistent with the winery's emphasis on estate-grown wines. Specific AVA designations, soil types, elevations, and individual vineyard acreages are not detailed in the scraped content.\n\nWhat is described in meaningful detail is the farming philosophy applied across these sites. Leonetti plants **year-round cover crops** to prevent erosion and enrich the soil. They mow **alternate rows** to support flowering plants that attract and sustain beneficial insects. The winery practices **mechanical weed control** in place of herbicides. All decisions — from water management to the timing of treatments — are guided by a stated commitment to **sustainability and the long-term health of the vineyards**. The winery expresses deep reverence for soil, describing it as \"the lifeblood of our vineyards\" and crediting the unseen biological activity beneath the surface as the true foundation of every bottle of Leonetti.\n\n## Signature Wines\n\nLeonetti Cellar produces a focused portfolio of red wines. Their lineup, as listed on the website, includes:\n\n- **Cabernet Sauvignon**\n- **Merlot**\n- **Reserve**\n- **Sangiovese**\n- **Aglianico**\n- **Single Vineyard Series**\n\nThe inclusion of Aglianico and Sangiovese alongside the more regionally common Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot signals a distinctive commitment to Italian varieties — an uncommon choice in Washington State and one that underscores Leonetti's willingness to experiment beyond regional convention. The **Single Vineyard Series** further reflects the winery's estate-focused identity, allowing individual vineyard expressions to be highlighted. Detailed tasting notes, production volumes, and wine-specific descriptors are not present in the scraped content.\n\n## Wine Club / Allocation Model\n\nLeonetti Cellar does not operate a traditional wine club. Instead, all wines are released in **limited allocations exclusively to members of their Mailing List**. This model is central to how the winery has operated since 1977. Prospective customers who are not yet members are invited to join a **Waiting List** as the first step toward accessing wines and becoming part of the Leonetti community. The winery frames membership not merely as a purchasing mechanism but as an invitation to share in their ongoing story.\n\n## Winery Character\n\nLeonetti Cellar's identity in Walla Walla is built on three intersecting qualities: historical primacy, family continuity, and land-centered craft. As the valley's founding winery, it carries an authority that no other producer in the region can claim. Its self-description — **\"Iconic. Evocative. Timeless.\"** — reflects a brand confidence grounded in nearly five decades of consistent production. The fourth-generation framing emphasizes that this is not a corporate venture but a deeply personal, multigenerational commitment to a specific piece of land. The exclusive allocation model reinforces an intentional scarcity and a sense of community among those fortunate enough to access the wines. Taken together, Leonetti presents itself less as a commercial winery and more as a living expression of Walla Walla Valley's agricultural and cultural heritage.","somm_notes":[{"title":"Patti's notes on Leonetti","content":"If you're a member here, consider yourself lucky. This iconic winery produces some of the most beautifully structured wines in the valley. My favorite is the Sangiovese, and if you're not a member yet, I'd suggest getting on their waitlist as soon as you can."}],"wines":[{"name":"Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":""},{"name":"Merlot","vintage":"","variety":"Merlot","price":""},{"name":"Reserve","vintage":"","variety":"","price":""},{"name":"Sangiovese","vintage":"","variety":"Sangiovese","price":""},{"name":"Aglianico","vintage":"","variety":"Aglianico","price":""}],"patti":null,"visitor_ratings":[{"source":"tripadvisor","rating":4.7,"count":7},{"source":"yelp","rating":3.8,"count":5}],"sample_reviews":[{"source":"reddit","reviewer":"u/BadChineseAccent","rating":null,"rating_max":null,"text":"The Tuesday night special - 2006 Leonetti Cellars Sangiovese\n\nI bought this bottle on WineBid a couple of months ago and decided to pop it open last night and it was delicious! The best Sangiovese I’ve had from Washington. \n\nThe bottle condition and fill level were excellent, though I unfortunately broke the cork. \n\nI didn’t get much on the nose, frankly, but the palate made up for it. Lovely cherry flavors and dark fruit, some oak, maybe a bit of spice, and a bit of heat from the 14.3% alcohol level. \n\nThe mouthfeel was luscious and the vibrant acidity and fine tannins made this feel younger than I expected it to be. \n\nCan’t wait to try more from Leonetti!","date":"2023-05-17"}],"critic_scores":[{"wine_name":"'Reserve' Red Wine","vintage":2023,"score":100,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Reserve' Red Wine","vintage":2022,"score":99,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Reserve' Red Wine","vintage":2021,"score":99,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Reserve' Red Wine","vintage":2018,"score":99,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2023,"score":98,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Reserve' Red Wine","vintage":2017,"score":98,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2022,"score":97,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2021,"score":97,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Reserve' Red Wine","vintage":2020,"score":97,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Serra Pedace Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2019,"score":97,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Loess Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2019,"score":97,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Mill Creek Upland Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2019,"score":97,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Merlot","vintage":2024,"score":96,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2020,"score":96,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Aglianico","vintage":2019,"score":96,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null}],"community_scores":[{"wine_name":"Select Red","vintage":2015,"score":98,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.8/5 (28 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Reserve","vintage":2012,"score":97,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.7/5 (144 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2006,"score":97,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.7/5 (72 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Reserve","vintage":2022,"score":96,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.6/5 (1,332 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Merlot","vintage":2016,"score":96,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.6/5 (110 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Serra Pedace Vineyard Aglianico","vintage":2014,"score":96,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.6/5 (33 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2022,"score":95,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.5/5 (3,743 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Serra Pedace Vineyard Aglianico","vintage":2019,"score":95,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.5/5 (157 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Sangiovese","vintage":2014,"score":95,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.5/5 (94 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Merlot","vintage":2023,"score":94,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.4/5 (2,246 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Merlot","vintage":2021,"score":94,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.4/5 (2,246 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Merlot Walla Walla Valley","vintage":2014,"score":94,"source":"Wine Berserkers","critic":"John_Glas","tasting_note":") Yes sir! One of the best Washington State Merlots I have sampled to date. Excellent concentration with spice, blueberries, cherry, oak, vanilla and dust. Super complex wine and long finish. This should age for another decade. Make sure to decant for 3 to 4 hours if consuming now. ("},{"wine_name":"Merlot","vintage":2000,"score":94,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.4/5 (2,246 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Merlot","vintage":1999,"score":94,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.4/5 (2,246 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Merlot","vintage":1997,"score":94,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.4/5 (2,246 ratings)"}],"events":[]}