Tickets available here: https://local-vines.thethirdplace.is/events/upcoming

 

A Story Rooted in Family, Tradition, and the Soil

The Spark of a Lifelong Dream

 

The heart and soul behind Raisin d’Être Vineyards is proprietor and vintner Daniel Howsepian—a warm, deeply welcoming presence whose passion for winemaking is matched only by his love for sharing it with family and friends.

Daniel’s journey into the world of wine began when he was just a small boy. Every year in July and August, his parents sent him to France to spend summers with his extended family. During his time in Burgundy, he spent unforgettable days with his uncle Jojo, who served as the Cellar Master of “Dufouleur Père et Fils” in Nuits-Saint-Georges. Uncle Jojo showed young Daniel around ancient wine cellars originally built by the Romans as armories, where the unforgettable, rich aromas left a permanent mark on his imagination.

Surrounded by cousins who proudly tended their own little family vineyards and enthusiastically shared their creations, Daniel caught the spark of a lifelong dream: one day, he would have his own winemaking adventure.

 

From Vision to Reality in Lafayette

Years later, that childhood spark became a reality. After spending a career in building development—experience that eventually helped him uniquely construct his own micro-winery built into a hillside around the concept of gravity flow—Daniel brought his French-inspired vision to the rolling hills and canyons of Lafayette, California.

The name Raisin d’Être is Daniel’s playful and heartfelt take on the French expression raison d’être, meaning “reason for being.” For Daniel, growing grapes, nurturing living soils organically, hand-pruning, and hand-harvesting isn’t just a craft—it is quite literally his reason for being.

 

 

A Family Tradition Passed On

Daniel’s deep-rooted dedication to the vine has come full circle, even inspiring his son Julien to follow a path into winemaking. Today, Daniel pours that same generational passion, warmth, and commitment to minimal-intervention craftsmanship into every single bottle he creates.

When you share a glass of Raisin d’Être, you aren’t just tasting an exceptional Lamorinda wine—you are stepping into a warm, multigenerational story born in the cellars of Burgundy and brought lovingly to life right here in the East Bay.

 

Featured Tasting Flight

Find these four signature varietals highlighted on your placemat corners:

 

Event Details

 

Space is limited—reserve your spot today for an afternoon of exceptional wine and rich family tradition.

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