Inspired By Tradition
Our story starts in 1904, when Larry Grassini’s grandfather, Articondo Grassini, set sail from Pisa, Italy seeking opportunity and a place to put down roots in America. He was soon joined by his wife, Afiora Tinnucci, and together they began building the foundations for our family. Articondo found joy in his small backyard garden, while Afiora loved transforming his harvests into delicious meals shared with loved ones.
Their love of food, family and the earth was passed down to Larry’s father, Leo, who shared the same passion for gardening. Leo grew much of his family’s food, instilling a respect for the soil in his children and grandchildren. This tradition continues today, with Larry teaching his own grandchildren the joys of tending his small vegetable garden at the vineyard.
And that is where the heart of Grassini Family Vineyards truly lies - in family. Larry’s wife, Sharon, and daughters Katie, Corey, Mandy, and Molly have supported this family venture from the very beginning. Today, another generation is actively involved, with their eldest daughter, Katie Grassini, leading the way as CEO alongside her husband and Estate Director, Dean McKillen.
At Grassini Family Vineyards, our family’s passion for beauty, hard work, and this very special place come together to create wines that are truly unique. We hope you enjoy the poetry in every glass - a taste of our family’s history, a reflection of this land, and a tradition best shared with those you love. Articondo would have been proud!
Winemaker Bradley Long
Our Team
Larry & Sharon Grassini
Instead of joining the rest of the family at church on Sundays, Larry Grassini's grandfather Articondo Grassini was more religious about keeping a garden. He would stay home on Sundays to make that evening’s ravioli from the green bounty of his garden, while enjoying a glass of wine (or two). Larry's father Leo Peter Grassini—when not making ravioli on Sundays—was equally passionate about keeping a garden to grow much of the family’s food. He shared his love for the soil with his children and grandchildren, and these earthy traditions have now been entrusted to the third and fourth generations.
After falling in love and marrying in New York, Larry and Sharon Grassini journeyed to the West Coast in their red Volkswagon van (complete with peace sign decor!) and eventually settled down in the San Fernando Valley. Over the ensuing years, Larry became one of the most respected trial lawyers in the US, being twice recognized as “Trial Lawyer of the Year” by the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association. He was also elected to the Inner Circle of Advocates as one of the top 100 plaintiff’s lawyers in the United States. Sharon kept her hands full raising the couple’s four daughters but still managed to find time to become a practicing Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT.) She became a Certified Supervisor with both the state and national MFT organizations and served on the Board of Directors of the California Association of MFTs.
One day in the 1980s, on a family vacation to Santa Barbara, Larry and Sharon Grassini stumbled upon the 104-acre parcel of untamed land that we now call Grassini Family Vineyards. At the time, they didn’t have any plans to build a winery or plant a vineyard, but they knew that this piece of land was too magical to pass up. For about a decade after they purchased the property, Larry and Sharon focused on raising their bevy of children and didn’t do much with the land other than leasing it to neighbors to graze their cattle on.
In the late 90’s, the Grassinis realized that the wine industry was starting to bloom in Santa Barbara County and began to investigate whether or not their land could be a good spot for a vineyard. They called the experts at Coastal Vineyard Care to evaluate the land, looking at everything from soil content to rainfall amounts, to sun exposure and everything in between. They were shocked when they were told that not only was this dynamic piece of landscape a great place for growing grapes, but it was a perfect spot to try Bordeaux varietals (which had never done well in other regions in Santa Barbara!)
From day one, Larry's wife Sharon and daughters Katie, Corey, Mandy and Molly have been there in support of this exciting and enriching undertaking. At Grassini Family Vineyards and Winery, our extended family’s passion for beauty, the commitment to hard work and a memorable place all come together to make the wine in bottles bearing our family’s label something special. It is our hope that you will enjoy the poetry of the wine and its sense of place and tradition with your friends and family.
Katie Grassini, CEO
Katie Grassini, a graduate of California State University, Chico, has built a diverse career across various industries, including ski resorts in Lake Tahoe, luxury hotels in Squaw Valley, and technology sales in Santa Barbara. Following in her father’s footsteps, Katie transitioned into law after earning her degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. As a trial lawyer specializing in serious injury and death cases, she earned recognition as a “Rising Star” by SuperLawyers Magazine in 2010.
In 2010, Katie took on the role of CEO at Grassini Family Vineyards, a position that leverages her expertise in wine sales, financial planning, business development, and capital improvement. Her leadership has been pivotal in the winery’s success, which has been named Best Winery / Tasting Room for seven consecutive years by The Santa Barbara Independent. The winery was also honored as the “Honorary Winery” of the Santa Barbara Wine Auction in 2022 for its philanthropic efforts and quality winemaking.
Beyond her professional achievements, Katie is deeply involved in the Santa Barbara community, serving on the boards of organizations such as Visit Santa Barbara, Downtown Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association, and the Santa Barbara Vintners’ Foundation. With an Estate Winery in Santa Ynez, a bustling Tasting Room in downtown Santa Barbara, and the recent addition of La Tarantella at Grassini Family Vineyards, Katie continues to expand her family’s business while upholding its commitment to exceptional wine and community support.
Bradley Long, Winemaker
Born and raised in New Orleans, Bradley grew up surrounded by great food, and soon developed a passion for rich flavors. His mother taught him to cook and gave him an understanding of layering and developing flavors. In 2006, Bradley left the Big Easy for the big mountains of California to pursue several lifelong passions, including rock climbing and mountaineering. It wasn’t long before he decided to work a harvest in Napa Valley at the famed Cakebread Cellars. “That was it. One vintage in and I knew how I wanted to spend my time from that point on: making wine!”
Bradley honed his skills at Cakebread Cellars, then began focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon at Nickel & Nickel before settling down at Fantesca Estate and Winery as Cellar Master. After four years at Fantesca, Bradley decided to work a vintage in Australia before turning his attention toward the Central Coast of California. He was fascinated by one of the newer AVAs in the area – Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara County – which was rapidly gaining a reputation for outstanding Bordeaux varietals.
As Winemaker at Grassini Family Vineyards, Bradley enjoys working with the estate vineyards, and ensuring that the wines provide a true expression of the fruit. “The fruit at Grassini is some of the most complex in the Santa Ynez Valley, and is farmed to the highest standards. Not many people thought Bordeaux varieties would grow well out here, but Happy Canyon has produced truly excellent Cabernet Sauvignon. I am thrilled to be a part of this thriving wine community, and to introduce the world to the wines of Happy Canyon and Grassini Family Vineyards.”
Dean McKillen, Estate Director
Dean was born and raised in Northern Ireland and moved to the U.S. to begin his wine career working at J&L Wines, a Central Coast distribution company. While living in Paso Robles, Dean worked as a sales representative and the key accounts brand development manager for 10 years, specializing in high-end wine sales, which included the Grassini Family Vineyards brand.
Having had the opportunity to learn the inner workings of hundreds of Californian and International wine brands, and with over 15 years of industry experience, Dean brings a wealth of experience to our team as our Estate Director. He is responsible for overseeing the hospitality operations at our Santa Ynez properties and continues to work with our team to ensure that the caliber of the experiences at our Estate are always on par with the quality of our wines and service.
Lauren Dinger, Operations Manager
Lauren’s journey has taken her from the historic streets of Boston to the vibrant landscapes of Santa Barbara, reflecting her passion for new experiences and cultures. She graduated summa cum laude from Emory University in Atlanta with a double major in Sociology and Spanish. During her studies, Lauren had the opportunity to live in Spain and travel throughout Europe, where she developed a deep appreciation for wine.
In 2012, Lauren moved to California to immerse herself in the wine industry and joined the Grassini team in 2016. As Operations Manager, she oversees staff training and development, digital marketing, direct-to-consumer sales, and manages our wine club. Lauren is dedicated to supporting the team and ensuring the smooth operation of every aspect of the Grassini business.
Estate-Grown in Happy Canyon,
the Heart of Santa Ynez
Northwest of Santa Barbara lies the 40-mile-wide Santa Ynez Valley. At the valley’s eastern edge lies Happy Canyon, an area blessed with warm days and cool marine influences with few variations. Nestled among the quintessential ridge and valley of this rarified wine-growing region is where you will discover Grassini Family Vineyards and Winery—a tranquil refuge where all the conditions necessary for great wine happily converge.
The location is just inland enough so that a north-south mountain range blocks the Pacific coastal breezes, preventing them from cooling the canyons. While certain grape varieties need substantial warmth during the day to mature, all vines benefit greatly from respites provided by cool nights. The combination of the extreme temperature swings between day and night make Happy Canyon unique and ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes to optimum ripeness and quality.
Some believe terroir makes the wine. When the Grassini Family decided to plant vines on the property the family had owned for decades, they called upon Jeff Newton and Larry Finkle, the talented creators of Coastal Vineyard Care, to help them realize their dream. The vineyard would be placed in the best, and most experienced, of hands. Ben Merz, the vineyard manager, provides daily direction to the entire team. Ben planned and planted the vineyard in 2002.
Vineyard foreman Manuel Cardoza and his dedicated crew do all the heavy lifting that makes it all possible. Manuel and his crew planted every vine on the estate and it is their dedication that has helped create one of the vineyard jewels of the renowned Santa Ynez Valley. In keeping with the Bordeaux tradition of the estate, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot varietals complement the Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Several unique Cabernet clones, tended by hand, enhance the exceptional wines produced on the estate.
Our Winemaking
The vineyard management team works tirelessly and closely with our winemaker, Bradley Long, to ensure that every vine in the vineyard gets the kind of personal attention that will allow each precious berry to ripen to perfection.
High-density planting, vine crop reduction, hand-training and careful timing of the pick come together to produce the soft tannins and overall balance of the structure, vineyard acid levels, beautiful aromatics, and elegant mouthfeel in the resulting wine.
Each lot from the different vineyard blocks is then fermented separately in small batches to ensure proper fermentation temperatures. As in the vineyard, patience in the wine caves pays off. Both red and white wines are allowed to spend leisurely and generous amounts of time in barrel in order to mature and reach the sought-after balance.
As a result of this attention to detail, our wines accurately express the unique character of this special estate and those who work there. In the Cabernet-based wines, this approach results in the inherent power and richness of the Cabernet grape being balanced with the finesse and elegance that defines its character. In the whites, all of this work is intended to capture the typical freshness and liveliness of the Sauvignon Blanc grape and balance it with concentration and depth.
History Revisited
The Grassini Family winery is as singular as the wines crafted inside. Borrowed and adapted from 17th century southern European approaches, the winery itself is embedded in a prominent hillside with the rear opening into naturally cooling wine caves. The caves ensure humidity and temperature control, while using a fraction of hydrocarbon or electrical energy sources. This practice dates back to Roman times, when wine was stored in catacombs to take advantage of the naturally cool temperature underground.
All the wood in the winery is reclaimed antique fir, having been milled from timbers discovered recently in the Columbia River. The timbers were used in the late 1800s to move materials downriver to lumberjack camps. These same reclaimed timbers were used to build the handcrafted bar in our tasting room in the historic Presidio Neighborhood of downtown Santa Barbara.
The entire winery and vineyard are solar powered and the water used for irrigation is from the estate’s well-fed lake. Additionally, all water used in the wine production process is reclaimed and used to irrigate all of the landscaping surrounding the winery. With a constant eye towards sustainability, both history and the future will be served.