We had the good fortune of connecting with Ben Sposato and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ben, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Our goal for starting Acri Wine Co. was to make low intervention wines for the local community, using fruit sourced locally. There are endless wine options available to consumers and we wanted to create world class wines that were locally made, environmentally conscious, and most importantly delicious.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My wife Katy and I started Acri Wine Company in 2018 with the goal of opening a winery in Los Angeles that would feature low intervention, varietal driven wines that showcase the fruit from sustainably farmed, family owned vineyards all across Southern California.

We have been incredibly excited and encouraged by the outpouring of support since our first release in March of 2021.

Starting a winery is difficult. There are always issues that are popping up. From regulatory issues to weather and winemaking issues – there is always something that needs to be solved quickly in order to survive and make the best wine possible. It makes things fun though!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
LA has some of the best food and entertainment in the world. One week would not be nearly long enough to see even a slice of the city but I would recommend a few of the following…

Coffee:
-Go Get Em Tiger
-goodboybob

Lunch:
-Langer’s Deli
-Yojimbo
-NIGHT + MARKET Sahm

Dinner:
-Mother Wolf
-Vintage Wine + Eats
-Bavel
-Bestia
-Muso & Franks

Drinks:
-Genever Bar
-Augustine Wine Bar

Visit:
-Getty Museum
-Griffith Observatory

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
We received so much support from the Los Angeles winemaking community when we started. Mark Blatty from Byron Blatty Wines was an enormous help in getting us acclimated to the LA winemaking scene and introducing us to vineyards in the area. All of the LA Vintners have been a huge source of inspiration and guidance as well. The whole crew at Pulchella Winery has helped guide us in our winemaking as we make wine on a larger scale that we’ve ever done before.

There are so many incredible wine shops and wine bars in Southern California that have been major supporters of our project as well. Clos Wine Shop, Fancy Free Liquor, Unfined Wines, Good Clean Fun, Slauson Liquor Spot, West Tasting Room, Campfire, and Little Bear Bottle Shop to name a few.

Website: www.acriwineco.com

Instagram: acriwineco

Twitter: acriwines

Facebook: acriwineco

Image Credits
Ben Sposato

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