Rich Funk of Saviah Cellars
When Rich and Anita Funk moved from Montana to Walla Walla in 1991, they never imagined they would one day be part of the Washington wine industry. In fact, their dream was to stay in Walla Walla a couple of years and then return to Montana to open a microbrewery. Rich had a strong science background and knew something about making beer. But they both had good jobs in Walla Walla and fell in love with the community at a time that was magical for the emerging wine industry. The couple drank more and more Walla Walla wines and met the early winemakers who put Walla Walla on the wine map. They saw first-hand the excitement and comaraderie surrounding the fledgling industry and decided they wanted to be part of it. Rich studied wine books three or four hours a day, observed other winemakers, and then the two came up with a business plan for what became Saviah Cellars in 2000.
The winery and tasting room were among the first to be built in the area south of Walla Walla that today is home to many tasting rooms. All but one of the estate vineyards were planted even further south in the Oregon part of the Walla Walla Valley AVA. Rich had some of the earliest vineyards in the Rocks District of Milton Freewater, which helps explain Saviah’s emphasis on Syrah. Although he makes wines with Bordeaux, Rhone, Italian and Spanish grape varieties, Rich is perhaps best known now for his single vineyard Syrah wines. There are four different collections of wines at Saviah, including the Jack Collection that offers some of the very best wines for the money ( $18 red wine, $15 white) in Washington state. Spouses Jack and Saviah were family members with a fascinating story that Rich explores in this interview, along with many other aspects of the business.
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