News

Food & Wine

Layers of the Land

Gabe Saglie
June 1, 2015
Food & Wine Magazine

In 1970, Central Valley grower Louis Lucas, also with Al Gagnon and Dale Hampton, established the 800-acre Tepusquet Vineyard. “We were the leading edge,” he admits, “and any time you go to an area that doesn’t have fruit, there’s a risk.” Within five years, however, the caliber of his chardonnay was luring big-name Northern California buyers like Beringer, ZD and Robert Mondavi.

A 1970's photo of Louis Lucas on Wines & Vines Magazine

Wine Country This Week

Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards

The Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards tasting room offers guests a wide variety of wines to choose from. They craft an impressive array of wines from 26 grape varieties that are grown on their 400 estate acres in Santa Barbara County’s three distinct microclimates, creating a diversity of wine styles to suit every taste preference.

A portrait of winemaker Megan McGrath Gates smiling

Finley's Pairings

Gyro Meatloaf with Tzatziki Sauce

Father John Finley
May 24, 2015
Santa Maria Times

This is definitely a “fusion” dish, but one you will enjoy -- the flavors of Greece rolled into a classic meatloaf and served with a Lucas & Lewellen Malbec wine.

A photo of Gyro Meatloaf with Tzatziki Sauce

Sparkling Wine for my Real Friends

Louis Villard
May 1, 2015
California Spiltwine

The following three were my top picks of the night.  Lucas & Lewellen Blanc de Noirs was my favorite on the night. Nectarines, apricot and brioche. Perfectly balanced. – $30 (great price) Summerland Winery Brut using Sonoma fruit was very crisp, and tasted of granny smiths and lime. $30 While Brewer-Cliftons straight Chard, from their own 3D vineyard, has more mouthfeel and a bit heavier with nutty, yeasty flavors and baked peach. You could age this one for 10 years or so. $50  

A bottle shot of Lucas & Lewellen sparkling wine

Women in Wine

Celebrating Women's History Month

March 19,2015
Santa Ynez Valley News

Long before Congress designated March as Women’s History Month, women have been making wine history here in Santa Barbara County.

Megan McGrath Gates hard at work in the winery

One Wine's Revenge

Sideways Anniversary Inspires Merlot Tasting - Gabe Discusses with Louis

Gabe Saglie
August 28, 2014

It took just one line. Granted, it was delivered dramatically, and with angst. But just one infamous line is all it took.

"I am not drinking any (expletive) merlot!"

A promotional poster of the Sideways movie

The Liquid Legacy of Louis Lucas

Santa Barbara Wine Country Pioneer Is Driving Force Behind Lucas & Lewellen Winery

Matt Kettman
10/30/2013

In 1970, when Louis Lucas left his table grape-growing family in California’s hot Central Valley to try his hand at wine grapes in comparably cool Santa Barbara County, the 28-year-old Notre Dame graduate found himself staring at a blank canvas. 

Louis Lucas & Royce Lewellen

Interview with Louis Lucas, Viticulturist and co-owner of Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards

Mr. Hill's notes on an interview with Louis Lucas

Thomas R. Hill
09/13/2013
http://www.grape-nutz.com/tomhill/index.html

My sense is that the wines are more polished and restrained and balanced than many SBC wines. And I now know that there's some mighty good farming behind the wines.

First Wine Grape Harvest gets a Blessing

Lucas & Lewellen marks the start of harvest

Frank Cowan, Staff Report
September 12, 2013
Santa Ynez Valley News

With prayers and sprinkles of Holy Water on a half-ton bin of hand-picked pinot grigio grapes, the Rev. John Finley performed a special “blessing of the grapes” last week at the Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards facility in Buellton.

Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards owners and winemakers

A First Crush Blessing on the 2013 Vintage

Father John gives a blessing for harvest

Megan McGrath Gates and the Lucas & Lewellen winery team began crushing the first few lots of 2013 Pinot Grigio from our Los Alamos Vineyard today, September 5th.  Father John Finley met us at the winery to receive the grapes and solemnly offered petition for the harvest in our traditional "Blessing of the Grapes" service. 

The first Lucas & Lewellen grape crush of 2013

Pages