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September, 2020

From the Ground Up

What is wine? Wine is friendship, celebration, all these good things that bring people together. It’s a place where we fit

read more…
Royce conducting a wine tasting at the Lucas & Lewellen winery

Retired judge and winery owner Royce Lewellen passes away at 89

09/02/2020
Santa Ynez Valley Star

Royce Rutledge Lewellen, a lifelong Santa Barbara County community leader and the man for whom the Santa Maria courthouse complex is named, has died.

He passed away Sept. 2, 2020, at the age of 89 in Santa Barbara, California.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, but raised in Jefferson City, Lewellen graduated from the University of Missouri and UC Berkeley School of Law.

A retired Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge, businessman, vintner and philanthropist, those who knew him say his impact on the community was beyond measure. 

Photo of co-founder Royce Lewellen by Jeremy Ball of Bottle Branding

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

Royce Lewellen looks back

“So, how did you get in the wine business, Judge?”

That’s a question I’m often asked. Here’s the story: I first met Louis Lucas shortly after I moved from Solvang to Santa Maria in 1975. We were both members of the Santa Maria Wine & Food Society and the Rotary Club of Santa Maria. Louis was growing wine grapes in the Santa Maria Valley and selling them primarily to wineries in Napa and Sonoma Counties, where wines made from his grapes won high honors.  Louis and I became friends, especially enjoying the Wine and Food Society events together. In 1989, as a Superior Court Judge, I performed the ceremony when Louis and Jill were married.

People

Biographies of owners Louis Lucas and Royce Lewellen, and winemaker Megan McGrath Gates.

A photo of Louis Lucas
A photo of Royce Lewellen
A photo of Mike Lewellen
Winemaker Megan McGrath Gates

Our Story

Louis Lucas, a third generation grape grower, and Superior Court Judge Royce Lewellen met in 1975 through the Santa Maria Wine & Food Society. Louis was a well respected grower who had been supplying premium wine grapes for reputable Napa and Sonoma wineries for decades. Royce Lewellen was a passionate wine enthusiast with a vision for the future of the Santa Barbara County wine industry.

A photo of Royce and Louis
A photo of Royce and Louis
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