People
Louis Lucas: Originally from the Central Valley of California, Louis Lucas is one of California's premier grape growers. A proud graduate of Notre Dame, his partnership in the 1970's in Tepusquet Vineyards marked his name in the history books as one of the first commercial grape growers in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. His vast knowledge and viticultural expertise span over four decades making him a sought after speaker, consultant, and advisor.
Royce Lewellen: Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Royce Lewellen graduated from the University of Missouri and U.C. Berkeley's Boalt School of Law. A retired Superior Court Judge, businessman and community leader in Santa Barbara County, the courthouse complex in Santa Maria, CA was officially named the The Lewellen Justice Center in his honor. "The Judge" embarked on his latest venture in 1996 with renowned wine grape grower Louis Lucas. With their long time love of wine, Royce and Louis set out to produce the finest wines in Santa Barbara County.
Sadly, Royce passed away in September, 2020. He left behind a legacy for us to uphold as we move forward in the direction he set for us, pursuing excellence in the wines that we make, extending graciousness to the guests that we host, and serving this community that he loved with generosity. Royce's son Michael (below) continues in his father's stead.
Michael Lewellen: Michael “Mike” Lewellen is the Managing Partner and co-owner of Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards, a family-owned estate winery in Santa Barbara County, California. He represents the second generation of Lewellen leadership at the winery his father helped found, guiding the business across sales, marketing, finance, tasting room operations, production planning, and overall strategy..
Mike’s connection to Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards runs deep. His father, the late Royce Lewellen co-founded the winery in 1996 with third-generation grape grower Louis Lucas. Mike became an owner of the company in 1999, bringing a blend of business acumen and family legacy to the table, and transitioned to working with the winery full-time in 2009.
Under Mike’s leadership, Lucas & Lewellen has remained committed to hands-on estate viticulture, producing wines that reflect the diversity of Santa Barbara County’s distinct climates and soils. Today, the winery oversees more than 400 estate acres across the Santa Maria, Los Alamos, and Santa Ynez Valleys, and distributes its portfolio both domestically and internationally.
Mike’s role spans all facets of the business from brand development and production forecasting to market expansion and guest experiences. He champions a balance of tradition and innovation, ensuring that the winery honors its roots while evolving in a dynamic wine industry.
Beyond the winery grounds, Mike is active in promoting Santa Barbara County’s wine culture, showcasing Lucas & Lewellen’s wines and highlighting the agricultural richness of the Central Coast. Mike’s stewardship has helped sustain Lucas & Lewellen’s reputation as a respected family winery, one that combines heritage, sustainable farming, and wine excellence appreciated around the world.
Megan McGrath Gates: Megan was appointed winemaker for Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards in 2007. Having graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in Soil Sciences, she earned her Certificate in Winemaking at U.C. Davis before working as an enologist for Flowers Vineyard & Winery on the Sonoma Coast, crafting Burgundy-style Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. As winemaker for Cahill Winery in Sebastopol, she had the opportunity to work with Sonoma, Mendocino and Napa Valley grapes, specializing in small lot Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Bourdeaux varietals, and Syrah.
