The Lucia label was first established in 2000. Headed by family matriarch Jane, the Pisoni family has been farming for three generations in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Today, maverick vintner Gary Pisoni who has grown grapes with uncompromised practices in the appellation for over thirty years is joined by his two sons, Mark & Jeff. Mark is the farmer of the family and oversees the meticulous care of the vines at the Pisoni, Gary’s and Soberanes Vineyards. Jeff is the winemaker and crafts distinctive wines that reflect the family's estate properties.

Located in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands on sandy loam soil, the esteemed fifty-acre vineyard is planted mostly to Pinot Noir, with a small allotment of Syrah. Given its proximity to Monterey Bay, fog blankets the Gary’s Vineyard throughout most of the summer months, providing the right conditions for a cool, slow-ripening season. In the glass with a dark ruby hue from its rim to its core, this wine flaunts its youth with aromas of black cherry, ripe plum, and citrus blossom. This sets the stage for a wine of notable purity, complexity, and structure. Dark berry and graphite notes weave together with bright, lively acidity and soft, supple tannins to form a final seamlessly integrated finish. This is a remarkable combination of meticulous winemaking in a great vintage.

By Perry Miroballi