Local Vines was created to bring together the winemakers of Lamorinda and the community that enjoys their craft. Our tasting room offers an inviting space to explore the small-batch wines grown throughout our region, all within a relaxed urban setting in downtown Lafayette, just a short walk from BART and moments from Highway 24.
Every bottle poured at Local Vines begins with grapes carefully hand-picked with intention. By using minimal-intervention practices, our winemakers allow the fruit to speak for itself, highlighting the distinct character of Lamorinda with each pour.Â
Lamorinda is a federally recognized American Viticultural Area (AVA) with more than 150 wine grape growers, from backyard vineyards to larger producers. As more wineries become bonded, our selection will continue to expand, highlighting the individual flavors of the terroir. Â
Pietro has spent the last 25 years working in food and wine, first as a professional chef in Portland, then in San Francisco and in Napa Valley, and finally as a full-time professional winemaker and grape grower for the last 15 years. Â
Pietro and his wines have been featured in Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Bloomberg and the SF Chronicle, and he also has produced wines for other brands in Napa and Paso Robles and out-of-state wineries, as well as his own Prima Materia Vineyard and Winery label. Â
A grape grower at heart, he has experience planting and managing vineyards and has consulted for wineries and vineyards in Lake County and Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma. He is a Certified Sommelier and has spoken at national wine conferences; and he has directed and judged wine competitions. Â
For Pietro a global wine perspective is very important. Pietro brings a unique perspective to the world of wine and food that he is excited to share, while exploring the intricacies of grape growing and winemaking in the Lamorinda AVA.
THAL, LOS ARABIS, STAG HILL, RANCHO DEL HAMBRE, PRIMA MATERIA
Bill has been the master wine maker at Local Vines and has nearly 25 years’ experience as an amateur and commercial (bonded) winemaker. English’s wines have won numerous awards, including various best of class, double gold, gold and silver, as well as wines rated 90 to 99 points. He has been the vintner behind Meadow View Winery, Thal Vineyards, Rancho Del Hambre Vineyards and Stag Hill. Â
Bill is well known for his skill at producing all wine types, including white, rosé, dessert and reds of various styles.Â
MEADOW VIEW, THAL, LOS ARABIS, STAG HILL, RANCHO DEL HAMBRE
Thomas is an award winning cider maker renowned for producing high quality premium ciders using traditional methods and has been recognized for multiple ciders he’s created, developed and produced with both Mount Diablo Cider Company and with previous ventures as a professional cider maker.
His most recent accolades include winning the Good Food Awards, winning Gold medals in the Sagardo Forum (premiere international cider competition in Spain), the Cider Craft Awards, the U.S. Open Cider Championships and being selected as Best in Class at the Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition (GLINTCAP).
Thomas is consistently striving to enhance his skills and knowledge as a cider maker and dedicated to crafting the finest ciders possible.
MOUNT DIABLO CIDER
DEER HILL
Ever since I was a small boy, my parents would send me to France every year in July and August to spend time with my family. I had family throughout France, but when I was in Burgundy, I visited my uncle who was the Cellar Master of “Dufouleur Père et Fils” in Nuit St Georges. My Uncle, Jojo, showed me around the cellars built by the Romans for their armories, now used as wine cellars, and I will never forget the aroma within. Thus was the inspiration for my label design.
Of course, Jojo’s children all had their own little vineyard and made their own wines which they enthusiastically shared with me. That was the spark of my dream to have my own wine making adventure.
Today, many years later, I have realized this dream, and I am so grateful for being able to do this. It’s truly a passion of mine, and I hope you will enjoy the wine which derives from this passion!
RAISIN D’ETRE
Would you believe Jon has been actively producing wines since the turn of the century? It’s a slight exaggeration, but actually true. Although it has only been since 1999 that Jon started producing wine for friends and family; his fascination with wine began while he was in college, working in the tasting room at the Mirassou Winery in San Jose, California. It may also be possible that Jon’s interest in wine is in his blood. In the early 1900’s, Jon’s great-grandparents owned and farmed vineyards in San Martin, California.
Jon’s passion for wine and food has been the driving force contributing to his success. He now spends his time between Santa Rosa, CA and France, where he provides week-long, personalized guided wine tours. Â
CRANE TERRACE
The Lamorinda Appellation is a young and growing AVA that many visitors are discovering for the first time.
While our awards speak for themselves, we want every guest’s experience with Lamorinda wines to reflect the quality and potential of our region. Every bottle we pour has been thoughtfully curated and evaluated for its ability to enhance the reputation of the AVA.
To guide that process, we’ve brought together a team of seasoned industry professionals—our board of experts—who help shape the selection you’ll enjoy at Local Vines.
