meet chris figgins
CEO & winemaking director

Chris Figgins is the CEO and Winemaking Director for Figgins Family Wine Estates (FFWE). Chris succeeds his parents, Gary and Nancy Figgins, who founded Leonetti Cellar in 1977 – the oldest winery in Walla Walla. After growing up in the wine business, he officially joined Leonetti in 1996 post-graduation from Washington State University with a Horticulture degree. Chris assumed the position of head winemaker in 2001. 

In addition to operations and winemaking, Chris presides over all viticulture operations for FFWE, which includes seven distinct vineyard sites in the Walla Walla Valley AVA and one in the Chehalem Mountains AVA of the Willamette Valley. To further extend the FFWE experience, Chris has launched Toil Oregon, a small-production Willamette Valley brand featuring Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and FIGGINS, a single-vineyard estate wine brand focused on Bordeaux varieties. Chris was instrumental in transforming Leonetti into an estate grown winery and is known industry-wide for consistently pushing the envelope viticulturally. A frequent public speaker, Chris loves to share his passion for sustainable farming and biological soil health.