L.A. Lepiane Wines was established in 2013 with the simple goal of crafting vibrant, exciting, balanced wines made by my own two hands.
The name of my project is a nod to my great grandfather, Luigi A. Lepiane, who came from Piane Crati in Calabria, Italy with a dream of making a successful life for his family in the New Country. He settled in Hollister, California, where he established a grocery store and his own winery, L.A. Lepiane.
Three generations later, that deep Calabrian love of food and family guided me through my education and career. I studied biology and Italian at U.C. Santa Barbara, devoting a semester to studying abroad in Siena, Italy, where my love for Italian food and wines turned into a healthy obsession. Later, while earning my master’s degree in Viticulture from U.C. Davis, I jumped at the chance to work for one of the top wine producers in Barolo, Italy, making some of the best wines in the world.
Now at home in Santa Barbara, California, I have embraced the region’s unique ability to grow Barbera and Nebbiolo, alongside more well known grapes like Grenache. It is both thrilling and challenging to work with grapes so few have experience with here in California.
I dedicate these wines to my great grandfather’s memory, my family, and to you and your dinner table. It is my earnest hope that you drink them in the spirit of enjoyment.