Saviah Cellars

Science meets art in Saviah Cellars — with great success. The combination of knowledge and creativity makes for delicious and accessible wines, all within the picturesque setting of classic Washington wine country.

Affinity for Fermentation

Owners Richard and Anita Funk bring to Saviah Cellars a love of the land — and fermentation. Rich studied microbiology at Montana State University in Bozeman, where he discovered that he enjoyed and excelled at crafting home brews. When Rich and Anita relocated to Walla Walla in 1991, his interest in fermentation shifted to the town’s nascent wine industry.

In 2000, Rich and Anita established Saviah Cellars, producing its first commercial vintage of 300 cases. Its production has grown to over 6,000 cases today, and it is known for consistent wines designed to bring out the unique varietal characteristics of the vineyard source. The winery is best known for its Syrah and its Bordeaux-style blends—especially its Une Vallée blend.

Skill Through Experience

Rich has an extensive background in chemistry and microbiology, and he taught himself the science and art of making exceptional wines. His particular interest is soil science, which allows him to make the most of the relationship between fruit quality and terroir.

"Much of the time we grapple with a mix of science and intuition," Rich says, "slowly gathering pieces of information through tasting, analyzing, envisioning the unique quality of each of the sites we work with and the characteristics each site will impart in the bottle." Rich creates wines using two different approaches: either the expression of the style of wine, or the expression of the terroir, depending on the particular type of wine.

In keeping with the winery's respect for science, both of Saviah Cellars' estate vineyards are farmed in a sustainable fashion with a holistic system that employs environmentally friendly and socially responsible viticultural practices that respect the land, conserve natural resources and support biodiversity.

Old World Charm

Vineyards and scenic views of the Blue Mountains surround Saviah Cellars, located next to the Walla Walla River. Its old world stucco and stone tasting room was built in 2002. When visiting the tasting room, many find that the owners' gratitude of being able to share all the goodness of the Walla Walla Valley is contagious.

Tasting Saviah Cellars' wines is a friendly and hands-on experience. The owners are often personally available (especially if advance notice is given) to guide visitors on a tour of the winery and happily answer questions about the winemaker's dance, the craft, the creativity, the intuition (gained from observation and experience and by fixing mistakes, they explain.) Wine club members are invited for two events each year to enjoy new releases paired with a variety of foods.

Mardi and I enjoy the view from the patio and pergola, which are covered in Riesling vines and offer shady location for a picnic. Afterwards, a stroll through the vineyard offers photo opportunities for the visit. One might even fish for Steelhead along the banks of the Walla Walla River at the back of the property—accompanied by a bottle of wine, of course.