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. Articondo would have been proud.
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 Santa Barbara County Winery” for eight 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 operations at our Santa Ynez properties and continues to work with our team to ensure that the quality of the settings of 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.
