Tasting by appointment only except for event weekends, where our location changes. Call (509) 240-2748 to schedule an appointment or email info@stellafino.com.

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Our focus at Stella Fino is creating wines from Italian varietals that transparently express the fruit and the soil which bore it. We believe that truly great wine embodies a sense of place – which may be why the greats are named after location, not grape variety. Our winemaker has a back-to-basics approach that honors the old-world yet maintains modern cellar practices. Our wines are created expressly to be enjoyed with savory food and good company. The first release was in 2005.

Recent Reviews:

Alice Feiring, reknowned wine writer and blogger, reviews Stella Fino.

2006 Sangiovese, Dr. Jay Miller, Robert Park's The Wine Avocate / eRobertparker.com: "The cherry red 2006 Sangiovese exhibits a nose of cinnamon, rosemary, earth notes, and cherry. Displaying some notes of elegance on the palate, it is an easy-going, tasty effort that finishes with no hard edges."

2006 Columbia Valley Barbera, Gold, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, 2010.

2006 Columbia Valley Barbera, Wine of the Week, Chuck Hill, www.winesnw.com, February 2, 2010.

2006 "The Boot", Exceptional and Excellent Vintage Value, Northwest Palate, January, 2010. "Fresh scents of crushed red fruits, spiced plums, and chocolate are mouthwatering. In the mouth, the wine delivers the full promise of the nose: ripe and sweet plum and blackberry flavors have a touch of spice, a hint of mocha, and a hint of mint. Balanced acidity imparts a tart quality around the edges of the fruit flavors, yet notes of vanilla and dried herbs add complexity. Alluring, jazzy, yet controlled, this elegant and layered wine develops nicely in the glass and delivers plenty of polished pleasure. Serve with slow-roasted pork and beef bolognese with papperdelle."

2006 "The Boot" Red Wine, Silver, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, 2009.

2006 "The Boot" - Excellent, WinePress Northwest, Summer Edition 2009. "Excellent. Elsewhere in the Walla Walla area, a wine of this merit would be in the $30 range. Regardless, this 50/50 blend of Barbera and Sangiovese from Lonesome Spring, Pepper Bridge and underrated Candy Mountain in Richland, Wash., spins out aromas of white strawberries, rhubarb, cranberries, soy sauce and green peppercorns. The bright red fruit unveils itself on the tongue with hints of Craisins and pie cherries, backed by a pleasingly long chocolate undertone. Acidity easily wins out vs. tannins for lots of Italian-themed dishes."

2007 Oregon Pinot Gris - Best Buy / Recommended, WinePress Northwest, July 14th, 2009. "Recommended. Grapes from the Willamette Valley and the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley allow this young Milton-Freewater winery to make a fruit-forward and straight-forward drink focused on dusty apples, pineapple, candy corn and a complex blend of orange and lemon citrus."

Double Gold, 2005 Barbera, WinePress NW, Winter 2008/2009: "Matt Steiner runs this young winery near Milton-Freewater, Ore., in the Walla Walla Valley. He named the winery after his great-grandmother, who emigrated to the United States from Italy. It's a beautiful wine with aromas and flavors of cherries, vanilla, blackberries and dark chocolate. Sweet tannins provide background music for this luscious red. Wine Press Northwest (Outstanding)."

Most Promising, Northwest Palate, November / December 2008: "Matt and Marlene Steiner's Stella Fino winery in Walla Walla focuses on Italian varietals. Standouts are the Stella Fino 2005 Sangiovese (Walla Walla Valley, $25) and the 2005 Barbera (Columbia Valley, $25.).

2005 Columbia Valley Barbera, Outstanding, WinePress NW Fall 2008: "This Milton-Freewater, Ore., winery is off to a fantastic start with this stellar Barbera. Owner/winemaker Matt Steiner is focused on making Italian-style wines in the Walla Walla Valley, honoring his great-grandmother, Stella Fino, who emigrated from Italy to New York in the early 1900's. This red takes advantage of grapes from Lonesome Spring Ranch near Benton City, Wash. It opens with stunning aromas of sweet oak, blackberries, kitchen spices and chocolate shavings, followed by flavors of big, bright fruit, cinnamon and coffee. Ripe fruit provides a round mouth feel that leads to a lengthy, pleasing finish." Read the full article here.

San Francisco Chronicle, July 31, 2008: Stella Fino gets a mention for the 2005 Walla Walla Valley Sangiovese. Check out the full article here.

Best Washington Sangioveses of 2008, Seattle Magazine: "Matt Steiner and his wife, Marlene, left their high-powered finance jobs in New York for Walla Walla Valley, where they bought 35 acres and are planting Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and other Italian varieties. The grapes come from Pepper Bridge Vineyard in Washington, just down the road from the Steiners’ winery on the Washington-Oregon border, and shows a deep red color, dark rich cherry fruit balanced by dusty minerality and acidity. Pairs with: Fresh pasta marinara with fresh basil and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese." Read the full article here.

2005 Barbera and 2005 Sangiovese: Recommended, Dr. Jay Miller, eRobertParker.com, Wine Advocate, July 2008

Northwest Palate, May/June 2008: 2005 Columbia Valley Barbera, Recommended: Mint and faint herb aromas are soft and require some teasing to emerge from the glass. Crisp on the tongue, pleasing flavors of tart cherries and underripe plums marry to undertones of sage and mint. At first taut and controlled, the wine opens with some time, allowing the subtle tannins to soften and the acidity to freshen the fruit. Serve with minestrone.

2005 Walla Walla Valley Sangiovese, Highly Recommended: Forward aromas of dried cherry, warm and dusty earth, and light toast are satisfying to sniff. On the palate bright and juicy cherry-centered flavors are complemented by notes of raspberry, tea leaf and baking spices. The fruit is perfectly framed by balanced acids and enough polished tannins to create a mouthwatering craving for repeated sips. The finish lingers long with plenty of fruitiness. Serve with paella.

San Francisco Chronicle, March 7, 2008:

"Stella Fino specializes in Italian varietals. This 100 percent Sangiovese is from Pepper Bridge Vineyard. Dusty earth surrounds the tart red fruit nose, while the moderately full-bodied palate offers similar flavors plus hints of sweet licorice and occasional tart notes. Very limited availability in Washington." Read the full article on domestic sangiovese here.

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