Where Two Hemispheres Meet & Stories Are Poured
Crafting Capitello
A Winemaker’s Pursuit of Place & Purpose
Capitello Wines was born from a restless curiosity and a devotion to craft. For founder and winemaker Ray Walsh, wine is more than a beverage; it is a medium for creativity, a way to capture the essence of a place and transform it into something timeless. From his first harvests in New Zealand and Europe, to decades of shaping Oregon Pinot Noir, Walsh has pursued one guiding principle: let the wine speak for itself.
In 2003, that vision became reality with the creation of Capitello Wines. Here, Walsh stepped away from the industrial pace of large-scale winemaking and into a world where he could shape every detail by hand. From vineyard to cellar, every choice is intentional, and each vintage reflects both land and craft. For Ray Walsh, winemaking is less about production and more about composition, balancing nature and intuition to reveal wines of elegance and character.
Over two decades later, Capitello remains true to this vision. Small-lot Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, sparkling wines, and limited experimental releases showcase Walsh’s artistry and the individuality of each vineyard site.
His craft now spans two hemispheres. Each year, he returns to New Zealand to help with harvest and create a collection of wines that later make their journey across the Pacific to Oregon, offering locals a rare taste of his winemaking roots from the other side of the world.
His path has been one of constant discovery. The early days in New Zealand vineyards gave him the foundation of grape growing, but it was Oregon’s diverse terroir that drew him to a deeper calling. Arriving in the Willamette Valley in the early 1990s after being recruited by Ed King to help shape King Estate’s next chapter, Walsh deepened his understanding of Oregon’s landscape and came to appreciate the value of precision, patience, and scale.
He quickly earned recognition as a winemaker of refinement and artistry. Yet it was not accolades or expansion that fueled him. There grew within him a more profound desire to create wines that were personal, expressive, and enduring.
“Drawing on my winemaking experience between New Zealand and Oregon,” Walsh reflects, “I feel truly fortunate to craft wines from two distinctive regions and be able to showcase the striking contrasts in terroir from opposite ends of the world.”
Capitello Wines is more than a craft, more than a job; it’s a winemaker’s pursuit of place and purpose. Each bottle reflects the honesty of the vineyard, the soul of the winemaker, and the stories that unfold over a glass of wine. Whether crafted from Oregon or New Zealand, Ray’s wines are a bridge between hemispheres, a vessel for sharing, remembering, and engaging with the moments that matter most.
At Capitello, it’s where two hemispheres meet, and where the best stories are poured.
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