“I grew up with wine in my blood. Some of my earliest memories surround family, wine and being with my dad in the cellar. I hope to pass that imbued knowledge on to my own children and grandchildren.”

—Chris Figgins

Meet the Winemaker

Chris figgins

Chris Figgins is the CEO and Winemaking Director for Figgins Family Wine Estates (FFWE).  Succeeding his parents, Gary, and Nancy Figgins, who founded Leonetti Cellar in 1977, Chris officially joined Leonetti following graduation from Washington State University with a degree in horticulture. Chris assumed the position of head winemaker of Leonetti Cellar in 2001. Chris was instrumental in transforming Leonetti into an estate-grown winery and is known industry-wide for consistently pushing the envelope viticulturally. In addition to operations and winemaking, Chris presides over all viticultural operations for FFWE, which includes eight distinct vineyard sites in the Walla Walla Valley and Willamette Valley.  To further extend the FFWE experience, Chris launched FIGGINS, a single-vineyard estate winery focused on Bordeaux varieties, and Toil Oregon, a small-production Willamette Valley brand featuring Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. A frequent public speaker, Chris loves to share his passion for sustainable farming and biological soil health.  

Chris figgins,
ceo & winemaking director

The Leonetti Legacy

Gary & nancy figgins

I grew up with wine in my blood. My great grandparents, Frank and Rose Leonetti, immigrated to Walla Walla from Southern Italy in 1902 and made “family wine.” These barrels of wine in the basement of his grandparents’ home inspired my father, Gary, to learn about winemaking and eventually start the first commercial winery in Walla Walla with my mother, Nancy, in 1977. Some of my earliest memories surround family, wine, and being with my dad in the cellar. I was blessed to have a father and mentor who was constantly instructing in his craft and a family who taught by example that everything worth having is achieved through meticulous hard work. 

— Chris Figgins

Meet the Winemaker | The Leonetti Legacy | The Next Generation

Gary & nancy figgins

The Next Generation

Figlia

I aspire to be the mentor in the craft of wine growing to my daughters that my father was to me; to pass that imbued knowledge on to my children and grandchildren. He taught me to approach all things with a view towards the horizon. Sometimes, the things that take the longest to build are the longest to live. Figgins Estate Vineyard was planted to have abundant fruit from which to make the FIGGINS Estate Red Wine. A plethora of blending options are required to create a world-class single vineyard wine each year. This also provides some degree of insurance for the inevitably challenging vintages the future will most certainly bring. With each passing vintage, the Cabernet continued to find its place as the leader of the Estate Red blend. This resulted in Merlot and Petit Verdot of exceptional quality not finding a home in our flagship wine. Thus, the creation of Figlia. The blend is a spectacular marriage of two Bordeaux varieties - Petit Verdot is dark, linear, brooding, and yet graceful, and Merlot is softening, broadening, juicy, fruity, and floral. I have been blessed with two precious daughters, Raegan and Scarlet – To whom this wine is dedicated. They are represented in your glass by the two lovely varieties, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Blended, they bring Grace and the Joy to this wine.  

— Chris Figgins

Meet the Winemaker | The Leonetti Legacy | The Next Generation

Chris with raegan and scarlet