About Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards
Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards is a family-owned estate winery in the heart of Solvang, founded in 1996 by veteran grape grower Louis Lucas and retired judge Royce Lewellen. Lucas, known locally as 'The Dirtman,' helped write Santa Barbara County wine history when he planted some of the area's first commercial Pinot Noir vines in 1969.
The estate farms roughly 400 acres across three distinct micro-climates, the Santa Maria Valley, Los Alamos Valley, and Santa Ynez Valley, planted to some 25 varietals. That breadth lets the winery bottle everything from cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to warm-climate Bordeaux reds, all hand-picked and estate-grown.
In addition to the flagship Lucas & Lewellen label, the family produces Italian-focused wines under the Toccata brand and playful bottlings under Mandolina and Queen of Hearts. The downtown Solvang tasting room, repeatedly voted among the valley's best, is dog-friendly and welcomes walk-ins daily.