From Retirement To The Vineyard: The Story Behind Our Rosé

One of the questions we hear most often in the tasting room is, "Where is your vineyard located?" The answer isn't as simple as pointing to one location. At Capitello Wines, we work with growers across several of Oregon's American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) - special wine-growing regions defined by their unique combination of climate, geography, and soils. These distinct places help shape the character of the grapes and, ultimately, the wines in your glass.

This is why we're excited to introduce our new Get to Know Your Growers series: a behind-the-scenes look at the vineyards and the people whose passion and dedication help bring our wines to life.

Every bottle of wine begins in the vineyard, long before the grapes ever reach the winery. This month, we’re introducing Leo and Christine, the dedicated caretakers of an Elmira vineyard within Oregon’s Willamette Valley AVA. Their Pinot Noir grapes help create our Rosé, bringing the character of this unique growing region into every glass.

Although they're relatively new to grape growing, Leo and Christine are no strangers to hard work or hospitality. After spending nearly 50 years in Florence, Oregon, they built and operated several beloved local businesses, including Pizza Express, Travelers Cove, Beachcomber Pub, The Bridgewater Restaurant, the boutique Bonjour!, and even a dance studio. In 2016, they retired, looking forward to a slower pace of life.

But life had other plans.

In 2021, they found themselves in Elmira, where they purchased a property with an established one-acre Pinot Noir vineyard. The vines, originally planted eight years earlier by Andrew Belzer during his time at King Estate, introduced Leo and Christine to a whole new chapter and their first harvest that very year.

Wine had always been a part of their story. During their years at The Bridgewater, they proudly featured an extensive wine list showcasing many of the Willamette Valley's finest wineries. What they never expected was that one day, they'd be helping produce those wines from their own vineyard.

As they quickly discovered, tending a vineyard is a year-round labor of love. 

When asked about her favorite time of year in the vineyard, Christine didn't miss a beat: "The day after harvest!"

It’s a sentiment many vineyard owners can probably relate to; the moment when months of hard work come to fruition. But beyond harvest, Christine says every season offers its own unique beauty and connection to the vines.

Their journey with Capitello almost never happened. After selling their fruit to Andrew Belzer for their first two vintages, they unexpectedly found themselves without a buyer just as the 2023 harvest approached. By October, nearly every winery had already committed to fruit from other vineyards, and time was running out.

Then someone suggested they call Ray Walsh.

Ray drove to the vineyard that very afternoon, walked the rows, and agreed to purchase the fruit, with one condition: harvest had to begin the very next morning.

Within hours, Leo and Christine had rallied friends and family, and by sunrise the vineyard was buzzing with helping hands. That whirlwind harvest marked the beginning of a partnership that continues today.

Those grapes would become the Rosé many of you have enjoyed in our tasting room.

For Leo and Christine, seeing (and tasting) that very first bottle was an unforgettable moment.

"It was truly a full-circle moment. We hope everyone who opens a bottle knows how much love goes into growing these grapes. Every vine, every season, every harvest is cared for with the hope that it becomes something people can gather around and enjoy."

The next time you find yourself at our tasting room, we hope you'll pop this Rosé into your flight, enjoy a glass, or take a bottle home to share. With every sip, you'll experience a little piece of Leo and Christine's journey: a story rooted in unexpected beginnings, hard work, and a deep love for the vineyard that now helps create the wines we love.