What a splendid introduction to an estate Walla Walla winery!

It’s always fun for me to learn about new-to-me wineries, particularly if it’s based in a region I have yet to visit. Such is the case with Caprio Cellars, a Walla Walla winery that specializes in Bordeaux varietal wines sourced from estate-grown grapes inspired by European epicurean traditions.

About Caprio Cellars

Winemaker/owner Dennis Murphy purchased the land where Caprio Cellars stands in 2003. Previously wheat fields, Dennis set out to make it the site of his first vineyard. His dream came to fruition in 2005 when the first plantings went in. He named his first vineyard “Eleanor” in homage to his late grandmother Eleanor Caprio. His first harvest was in 2008 and once the first wines were bottled, Caprio Cellars was born.

Inspired by Dennis’ Italian ancestors’ connection to wine as an essential part of daily life, Caprio Cellars aims to carry on the tradition of establishing a culture of wine tributed to his Italian heritage while also contributing to the emerging tradition of Walla Walla Valley AVA winemaking.

Estate Vineyard At-A-Glance

Few Walla Walla wineries own estate vineyards. Caprio Cellars is one of them. Their estate vineyard is comprised of three sites: Eleanor’s (named in honor of Owner & Winemaker Dennis Murphy’s grandmother), Octave and Sanitella.

• Eleanor’s; 3 acre vineyard planted on a southwest facing slope comprised of 2 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon + 1 acre of Merlot planted in 2005 on clay and loam soil
• Octave; 22-acre north-facing hillside vineyard comprised of 16 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, 2 acres of Merlot, 2 acres of Cabernet Franc, and 1acre of Malbec planted in 2007 on fractured basalt
• Sanitella; North-facing comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc planted on fractured basalt at~1,300 ft in the SeVein, which is situated on the southern border of the Walla Walla AVA in Oregon.

Sustainable farming and vineyard management practices are central to Caprio Cellars’ operation. They believe in fostering the health of the soils that provide the structure for their wines, now and for generations to come. That is made infinitely easier when you’re an 100% estate grown operation.

They produce about 2,000 cases annually of Bordeaux varietal blends out of all estate grown, hand-picked fruit. Their winemaking philosophy aims to let the fruit speak for itself and tell the story of where it comes from. In order to accomplish that, they use moderate French oak – just enough to provide balance and depth in the wine without obfuscation.

Their wine tasting and food tasting experience takes place in their state-of-the-art tasting room.

The entire Caprio team has a background in hospitality, and their ongoing commitment to the relational aspect of their business only adds to the overall experience. The Caprio Kitchen offers seasonally inspired plates to accompany every wine tasting. Executive chefs Kyle Daniel and Angel Cruz and Walla Walla strive to source local, organic, and sustainable ingredients for every delicious plate!

Philanthrophy

In keeping with their deeply rooted passion for honoring tradition and family, Caprio Cellars is proud to support the tireless work of non-profit organizations committed to those same things. Since 2010 they have donated 5% of all their proceeds to the two organizations below:

Disclosure: Wines were provided as a media samples. No other compensation was received. All opinions are mine.

The Wines

2020 Eleanor Red Wine

Blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon,17% Merlot, 12% Malbec, and 7% Cabernet Franc from Octave Vineyard-64%, Eleanor Vineyard-31% and Sanitella Vineyard-23%. Raised in 100% French oak
38% new oak, 62% neutral barrel for 18 months.

Tasting note: Deep garnet color with black cherry, blueberry, black currant, smoke, cedar, and tobacco aromas. On the palate it’s medium-bodied and elegant with silky well integrated tannins and blueberry, black cherry, black and red currant, vanilla, and cacao with a subtle dried orange notes. Medium-long finish. 14.5% abv| SRP – $68|89pts.

2020 Caprio Cellars Sanitella

Blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon,17% Merlot and 28% Malbec from 79% Octave Vineyard-79%, Sanitella Vineyard-15%, Eleanor Vineyard- 6%. Raised in in 100% French oak 57% new oak, 43% neutral barrel for 18 months

Tasting Note: Deep black red color with lifted black cherry, mulberry, cedar, vanilla, leather, and a hint of violet aromas. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, elegant and focused with silky tannins and bright acidity with ripe, fresh fruit flavors that echo its aromas. Long finish. 14.5% abv|SRP – $88|92pts

What a splendid introduction to an estate Walla Walla winery! I thoroughly enjoyed both of these wines, and after learning about their complimentary wine and food tasting experience that includes seasonally inspired plates to accompany every wine tasting (virtually unheard of here in Northern California), Caprio Cellars is at the top of my list for wineries to visit in Walla Walla!

Caprio Cellars| 1603 Whiteley Road, Walla Walla, WA|Reservations required for tasting.