OUR STORY
Meet the Winemaker | The Leonetti Legacy | The Next Generation
“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.
