Lucas & Lewellen News

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

Pairings - One Pot Chicken

Father John David Finley
Santa Maria Times

One-pot meals have a great appeal for those who don’t like to do dishes. Here is an Italian offering using none other than that omnipresent fowl – chicken.

Father John Finley blesses the first fruits of harvest at the Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards first crush

Wine Tasting While Social Distancing

Tom Plant
Wineormous.com

It had been nearly four months since our group of wine tasting friends had assembled. Caution with fears of the pandemic caused us to put our get-togethers on hold. This week, we decided to test the waters. Ken and Taryn graciously invited us to their home to safely return to one of our passions.

Lucas & Lewellen wines plus other wines - photo by Tom Plant

Five Reasons to Love Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards

Fran Endicott Miller
04/17/2020
JustLuxe.com
Royce Lewellen, Louis Lucas, Mike Lewellen in the Valley View Vineyard

What I learned about Santa Barbara County, is what I learned from Sideways. Now it’s from Lucas & Lewellen

Jo Diaz
March 11, 2020
Wine Blog

Today, I have the pleasure of exploring one of their wineries, which also has vineyards: Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards. I received a great sampling of their wines; and, through these flavors, I can now begin to understand Santa Barbara’s American Viticultural Area (AVA) a bit more. Remember Sideways?

Tasting With: Megan McGrath Gates - Winemaker Lucas & Lewellen

Michael Cervin
October 7th, 2019
Boozehoundz

Finley's Pairings

Father John Finley
September 14th, 2019
Santa Maria Times

Among other things, it takes a good winemaker to make a good Pinot Noir. Megan McGrath Gates has been the winemaker for Lucas & Lewellen Estate Vineyards since 2007. Her winemaking career was launched as an enologist for Flowers Vineyard & Winery on the Sonoma Coast, crafting Burgundian-style Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, while she earned a Certificate in Winemaking from UC Davis.

Discover California's Overlooked Cabernet Sauvignon

Jim Gordon and Matt Kettmann
July 25th, 2019
Wine Enthusiast

From veteran grape grower Louis Lucas, the Lucas & Lewellen Cote del Sol allows herbs and spices to do their trick.

2016 Lucas & Lewellen Cabernet Sauvignon

Childhood Dreams Become a Reality

Please the Palate

Allison Levine
April 4th, 2019
When Megan McGrath Gates was a little girl, she would listen to the stories of her grandparents. A ninth-generation Californian, Gates was raised in Riverside. But, her ancestors were ranchers and she is a direct descendant of the historic Olivas family in Ventura, California.
 
Despite her ancestors, Gates was a typical suburban kid. Her dad is a lawyer and her mom is a teacher. She is one of six children and has a twin sister. With all of the romantic stories about her family, she dreamed about being a rancher and living a bucolic life.
Megan McGrath gates

Experienced Hands Craft Memorable Wines

James Nokes
September 29th, 2018
Daily Chronicle

A winery with a history that is centuries old and a viticulturist who’s a local legend are separated by an ocean and joined by fine wine.

This week, wines from vastly different parts of the world, from wineries whose experience runs deep are classic bottlings.

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