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

Hi ALISON, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
L.A. Lepiane Wines was established in 2013 with the simple goal of crafting vibrant, exciting, balanced wines made by my own two hands. Before I could even drink wine, my love of food, interest in science, and passion for growing food guided me through my education and career. I studied biology and Italian at U.C. Santa Barbara, devoting a semester to studying abroad in Siena, Italy, where local wine was a part of every meal. The tradition and wine education in Italy inspired me to go back to school to earn my master’s degree in Viticulture from U.C. Davis. While completing my thesis, I jumped at the chance to work for one of the top wine producers in Barolo, Italy, making some of the best wines in the world.

The name of my project is a nod to my great grandfather, Luigi A. Lepiane, who came from Piane Crati in Calabria, Italy with a dream of making a successful life for his family in the New Country. He settled in Hollister, California, where he established a grocery store and his own winery, L.A. Lepiane.

My family history, passion for working with relatively unknown Italian varietals, and desire to have creative control over my brand drove the decision to start my own business.

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?
Every varietal that I make and every bottle that I offer is a careful decision based on nearly two decades of inspiration, guidance, observation, dedication, and sweat. My interest in wine
began through my love of food and cooking, and studies in Siena, Italy during my senior year at
UCSB. My interest in food led to an interest in gardening and eventually plant ecology studies at
UCSB and Viticulture at UC Davis. My connection to Italy drew me to pursue an internship with
Sergio Germano at Ettore Germano, one of the top Barolo producers in Serralunga d’Alba. That
pivotal experience was the first stage in developing my own winemaking style that is so evident
in the wines L.A. Lepiane now offers. I came back to California to work for Manfred Krankel
under his Sine Qua Non label, Steve Clifton at Palmina, and Samara under Chad Melville. These
experiences shaped by winemaking style, which is focused on selecting the best fruit and
crafting wine with as little intervention as possible to produce energetic, balanced wines that
pair perfectly with the farm fresh food that embodies coastal California.
My focus on Italian varietals, in particular Nebbiolo and Barbera, is extremely unusual for this
part of the world. Nebbiolo is known to be particularly difficult to grow and make and requires
extreme patience and time for the texture, flavors and mouthfeel to come together. I had the
honor of pouring my first vintage of Nebbiolo for Mr. Darrell Corti, famed grocer and wine
expert. He stated, ““The Lepiane Nebbiolo 2013 is to my mind the most expressive and best
varietally typical nebbiolo wine I have tasted in California. It has the proper deep red, not black
color; a fragrant aroma, of berries and tar, typical of nebbiolo with the violet character called
“goudron” so seldom found in this varietal. There is the austere character typical of nebbiolo
that is even now beginning to soften and show its harmonious side.”
More recently I’ve also been making a Malvasia Bianca with pronounced honeysuckle, lime,
lychee, orange blossom, and lemon crème pie, complemented by wet stone, briny, and petrol
aromas. This white is alive and luscious on the palette, with bright acid that balances the
richness. As the weather warms, this is a great option for a spring lunch or sunset with friends.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people who have helped my along the way. One, in particular, is Sergio Germano, owner and winemaker of Ettore Germano in Serralunga d’Alba, Italy. He gave me my first job and encouraged me from the start to follow my dream of becoming a winemaker. His encouragement was the tape in my head when my path wasn’t clear or when I felt like giving up.

Website: lepianewines.com

Instagram: @la_lepianewines

Image Credits
Andrew Schoenberger

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