About Us
Grandpa Bontzu
THE STORY OF THE "BONTZU CELLARS" NAME BEGINS WITH MY GRANDPA JON NICHOLAS, A COBBLER AND A SHOEMAKER WHO WAS THE HEAD OF OUR FAMILY FOR MORE
Meet Sorin
FOR ME, WINEMAKING STARTED WITH MY GRANDPA BONTZU, WHO INSPIRED ME TO CONTINUE THE TRADITION TODAY WITH BONTZU CELLARS. I MAKE WINE THE TRADITIONAL WAY, GROWN ON THE VINE, HARVESTED BY HAND, AND NATURALLY FERMENTED.
Philosophy
FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED, BONTZU CELLARS IS DEDICATED TO PRODUCING WINES THAT ARE TERROIR DRIVEN AND VINEYARD DESIGNATED. WE ARE FOCUSED ON RHONE AND BORDEAUX VARIETALS, MAKING WINES IN AN UNCOMPROMISING STYLE, USING TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES CAREFULLY MANAGED IN A NEW WORLD WAY.
IT ALL STARTS IN THE VINEYARD. THIS IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR WINE PHILOSOPHY: UNDERSTAND THE VINE, THE SOIL, AND THE SKY. KEEP IT NATURAL, WITH MINIMAL INTERVENTION.
IT IS WISHFUL THINKING THAT ONE CAN ALTER THE INTRINSIC QUALITIES OF THE JUICE OR OF THE WINE DURING THE VINIFICATION PROCESS. WE CAN ONLY RETAIN THE POTENTIAL OF THE GRAPE.
A WINE, AND THE VINES IT COMES FROM, HAVE TO BE IN BALANCE WITH THE SOIL, THE ATMOSPHERE, THE ENERGY FROM THE SOLAR SYSTEM AND ITS INTIMATE SURROUNDINGS. WE KEEP AND IMPLEMENT THESE FACTORS WHEN GROWING GRAPES AND DURING THE WINEMAKING PROCESS, BY APPLYING ORGANIC OR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES ON THE VINEYARD WE SOURCE OUR FRUIT FROM, WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF BECOMING A BIODYNAMIC WINE PRODUCER OF BRILLIANT WINES, AND AUTHENTIC WINES FOR SURE!
Wine Selections
Red Wines
2018 The Shoemaker
Walla Walla Valley
Full body, dry red wine blend of Sangiovese, Barbera, and Merlot showing silky tannins.
Aromas and flavers of blackcurrant, plums, licorice, sweet spice, and cocoa with a black cherries finish.
Produced using Native fermentation and neutral, minimal intervention.
Aged for 36 months in 100% neutral oak barrels.
Cases produced=140
ABV=14.7%
2018 Petit Verdot
Walla Walla Valley
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
Walla Walla Valley
2019 Barbera
Walla Walla Valley
2018 Syrah
Walla Walla Valley
Big, bold, in your face type of wine, this Syrah has a range of flavor, from red and black fruit, white and black pepper, prunes, bacon and smoke.
Notes of olive and meatiness, savory with hint of floral violet aromas.
Natural fermentation, aged in neutral oak barrels for 36 months.
Cases produced = 100
ABV=15.0%
2019 Syrah
Walla Walla Valley
Big, bold, in your face type of wine, this Syrah has a range of flavor, from red and black fruit, white and black pepper, prunes, bacon and smoke.
Notes of olive and meatiness, savory with hint of floral violet aromas.
Natural fermentation, aged in neutral oak barrels for 36 months.
Cases produced = 100
ABV=15.0%
2018 Cabernet Franc
Columbia Valley
This red wine showcases a delicate palette and a soft mouthfeel.
As for aromas and flavors, it will taste like bell peppers, spice and herbal flavors.
Also, in a warmer climate conditions, it will display flavors of cherries, wild strawberries and plums with a hint of tobacco and mocha.
Natural fermentation, aged in neutral barrels for 36 months.
Cases produced = 75
ABV=14.3%
2017 Sangiovese
Walla Walla Valley
Sangiovese offers primary flavors of tart cherry, red plum, strawberry, and fig, with subtle notes of roasted pepper, tomato, leather, clay, brick, tobacco, smoke, oregano, thyme.
On the nose, it offers aromas of the earth and tea leaf.
Native fermentation, aged for 36 months in neutral oak barrels, combination of French and Hungarian.
Cases produced=140
ABV=14.0%
2018 Pinot Noir
Walla Walla Valley
This Walla Walla Pinot Noir is dry, light-to medium-bodied, with bright acidity and silky tannins.
Taste of complex flavors that include cherry, raspberry, mushroom, and forest floor, plus vanilla and baking spice when aged in French oak.
Native fermentation, whole cluster, aged in neutral oak barrels for 36 months
Cases produced=96
ABV=14.8%
2016 Malbec Reserve
Walla Walla Valley
2018 G.S.M.
Walla Walla Valley
2018 Merlot
Columbia Valley
The Vineyards
IT WAS WITH A CLEAR PURPOSE THAT WE LOCATED BONTZU CELLARS IN THE VICINITY OF THE BEST VINEYARDS IN WALLA WALLA AND COLUMBIA VALLEY'S AVA. NOT ONLY THAT WE BELIVE IN THE NATURAL, TRADITIONAL WAYS OF MAKING WINE, BUT ALSO THAT OUR STANCE IS THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL SITE PROPAGATES AND INFLUENCES THE FLAVORS IN GRAPES AND HOW THOSE FLAVORS TRANSLATE INTO WINES IN A VERY PARTICULAR WAY.
Cockburn Ranch Vineyard
Walla Walla AVA
Our vineyard source for Granache and Malbec is located on the south-east corner of the Walla Walla AVA, in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. With an elevation of 1,000 to 1,200 feet and a south-east sun exposure, the vineyard provides a silty-loam clay type soil, and windblown, very good air drainage. The proximity to the Blues allows for enough preciptation during the spring season, which is the reason irrigation is called for only during the the hottest times of the growing season.
Breezy Slopes Vineyard
Walla Walla AVA
We source our Syrah, Sangiovese, Carmenere, and Barbera from this vineyard. While only 5 acres, this vineyard is located at the highest elevation in the entire Walla Walla AVA, at 1,780 feet! No irrigation is required, and we don't spray our vines with chemicals. This is our pride and joy, this is the way we want the grapes to grow! We grow the grapes ourselves; a total symbiosis grape grower/winemaker!
The Rocks Vineyard
Walla Walla AVA
We get our Syrah from this amazing piece of land with its renowned cobblestone based soil, reminiscent of old Walla Walla river bed; unique earthiness flavors, strong tannins, barn-like flavors and an unmistakable mushroom nose makes this site a true gem!
Bolton Vineyard
Columbia Gorge AVA
We get our Syrah from this amazing piece of land with its renowned cobblestone based soil, reminiscent of old Walla Walla river bed; unique earthiness flavors, strong tannins, barn-like flavors and an unmistakable mushroom nose makes this site a true gem!