Inspired By Tradition
Grassini Family Vineyards is built on a legacy that began in 1904, when Larry Grassini’s grandfather, Articondo, left Pisa, Italy, seeking a new life in America. Joined by his wife, Afiora, they laid a foundation rooted in family, hard work, and a love for the land. Articondo tended his garden, while Afiora transformed the harvest into meals shared with loved ones.
This passion for the earth passed to their son Leo, who grew much of the family’s food and taught his children and grandchildren to respect the soil. Today, Larry carries on that tradition by tending a vegetable garden at the vineyard and sharing the joys of gardening with his grandchildren.
In the 1980s, during a family trip to Santa Barbara, Larry and Sharon discovered a stunning 104-acre parcel in Happy Canyon. Captivated by its beauty, they purchased the land—even without immediate plans to build a winery.
By the late ’90s, as the region’s wine industry blossomed, experts confirmed the land was ideal for Bordeaux varietals—a rarity in the area. Inspired by their family’s legacy, the Grassinis planted their first vines, laying the groundwork for Grassini Family Vineyards.
Today, another generation is actively involved, with their eldest daughter, Katie Grassini, leading the way as CEO alongside her husband and Estate Director, Dean McKillen—carrying forward a family tradition built on passion, hard work, and a deep connection to the land.
Winemaker Bradley Long
Our Team
Larry & Sharon Grassini
Larry and Sharon Grassini built a life centered on family, hard work, and a shared sense of purpose. After meeting and marrying in New York, the couple packed up their red Volkswagen van—peace sign and all—and made their way to California, eventually settling in the San Fernando Valley to raise their four daughters.
Larry went on to become one of the most respected trial lawyers in the country. Over the course of his legal career, he was twice named “Trial Lawyer of the Year” by the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association and earned membership in the Inner Circle of Advocates—an exclusive group of the top 100 plaintiff’s attorneys in the United States. Despite the demands of his profession, Larry has always remained deeply connected to his family’s roots, with a lifelong respect for the land and the values passed down from his Italian grandfather and father.
Sharon built an equally impactful career in the field of mental health. While raising their daughters—Katie, Corinne, Mandy, and Molly—she also became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. In addition to her private practice, she earned the designation of Certified Supervisor and served on the Board of Directors for the California Association of MFTs, where she mentored young therapists and advocated for the profession statewide.
Together, Larry and Sharon have always believed in the power of family, the value of hard work, and the importance of leaving a legacy. That shared vision eventually extended to the founding of Grassini Family Vineyards—a venture that brought their love for the land and their family traditions full circle. Though they now enjoy watching the next generation take the lead, Larry and Sharon continue to be active and passionate stewards of the family’s values and vision.
Katie Grassini, CEO
Katie Grassini, a graduate of California State University, Chico, has built a diverse career across various industries, including ski resorts in Lake Tahoe, luxury hotels in Squaw Valley, and technology sales in Santa Barbara. Following in her father’s footsteps, Katie transitioned into law after earning her degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. As a trial lawyer specializing in serious injury and death cases, she earned recognition as a “Rising Star” by SuperLawyers Magazine in 2010.
In 2010, Katie took on the role of CEO at Grassini Family Vineyards, a position that leverages her expertise in wine sales, financial planning, business development, and capital improvement. Her leadership has been pivotal in the winery’s success, which has been named Best Winery / Tasting Room for seven consecutive years by The Santa Barbara Independent. The winery was also honored as the “Honorary Winery” of the Santa Barbara Wine Auction in 2022 for its philanthropic efforts and quality winemaking.
Beyond her professional achievements, Katie is deeply involved in the Santa Barbara community, serving on the boards of organizations such as Visit Santa Barbara, Downtown Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association, and the Santa Barbara Vintners’ Foundation. With an Estate Winery in Santa Ynez, a bustling Tasting Room in downtown Santa Barbara, and the recent addition of La Tarantella at Grassini Family Vineyards, Katie continues to expand her family’s business while upholding its commitment to exceptional wine and community support.
Bradley Long, Winemaker
Born and raised in New Orleans, Bradley grew up surrounded by great food, and soon developed a passion for rich flavors. His mother taught him to cook and gave him an understanding of layering and developing flavors. In 2006, Bradley left the Big Easy for the big mountains of California to pursue several lifelong passions, including rock climbing and mountaineering. It wasn’t long before he decided to work a harvest in Napa Valley at the famed Cakebread Cellars. “That was it. One vintage in and I knew how I wanted to spend my time from that point on: making wine!”
Bradley honed his skills at Cakebread Cellars, then began focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon at Nickel & Nickel before settling down at Fantesca Estate and Winery as Cellar Master. After four years at Fantesca, Bradley decided to work a vintage in Australia before turning his attention toward the Central Coast of California. He was fascinated by one of the newer AVAs in the area – Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara County – which was rapidly gaining a reputation for outstanding Bordeaux varietals.
As Winemaker at Grassini Family Vineyards, Bradley enjoys working with the estate vineyards, and ensuring that the wines provide a true expression of the fruit. “The fruit at Grassini is some of the most complex in the Santa Ynez Valley, and is farmed to the highest standards. Not many people thought Bordeaux varieties would grow well out here, but Happy Canyon has produced truly excellent Cabernet Sauvignon. I am thrilled to be a part of this thriving wine community, and to introduce the world to the wines of Happy Canyon and Grassini Family Vineyards.”
Dean McKillen, Estate Director
Dean was born and raised in Northern Ireland and moved to the U.S. to begin his wine career working at J&L Wines, a Central Coast distribution company. While living in Paso Robles, Dean worked as a sales representative and the key accounts brand development manager for 10 years, specializing in high-end wine sales, which included the Grassini Family Vineyards brand.
Having had the opportunity to learn the inner workings of hundreds of Californian and International wine brands, and with over 15 years of industry experience, Dean brings a wealth of experience to our team as our Estate Director. He is responsible for overseeing the hospitality operations at our Santa Ynez properties and continues to work with our team to ensure that the caliber of the experiences at our Estate are always on par with the quality of our wines and service.
Lauren Dinger, Operations Manager
Lauren’s journey has taken her from the historic streets of Boston to the vibrant landscapes of Santa Barbara, reflecting her passion for new experiences and cultures. She graduated summa cum laude from Emory University in Atlanta with a double major in Sociology and Spanish. During her studies, Lauren had the opportunity to live in Spain and travel throughout Europe, where she developed a deep appreciation for wine.
In 2012, Lauren moved to California to immerse herself in the wine industry and joined the Grassini team in 2016. As Operations Manager, she oversees staff training and development, digital marketing, direct-to-consumer sales, and manages our wine club. Lauren is dedicated to supporting the team and ensuring the smooth operation of every aspect of the Grassini business.
Eric Satterblom, COO / CFO
Born and raised in Orange County, Eric moved to Santa Barbara to attend UCSB. After college, he spent 20 years as an entrepreneur in the hospitality industry, where he honed his expertise in finance, operations, and team leadership.
That experience led him to transition into accounting, providing controller services for a diverse range of clients. For over a decade, Eric specialized in the financial management of wineries and vineyards, becoming a trusted advisor in the wine industry.
After seven years as an outside consultant, Eric officially joined Grassini Family Vineyards as COO / CFO. He now oversees financial strategy and operations, with a focus on the unique challenges of vineyard management, production costs, and long-term planning—ensuring the continued growth and success of the estate.
Estate-Grown in Happy Canyon,
the Heart of Santa Ynez
Northwest of Santa Barbara lies the 40-mile-wide Santa Ynez Valley. At the valley’s eastern edge lies Happy Canyon, an area blessed with warm days and cool marine influences with few variations. Nestled among the quintessential ridge and valley of this rarified wine-growing region is where you will discover Grassini Family Vineyards and Winery—a tranquil refuge where all the conditions necessary for great wine happily converge.
The location is just inland enough so that a north-south mountain range blocks the Pacific coastal breezes, preventing them from cooling the canyons. While certain grape varieties need substantial warmth during the day to mature, all vines benefit greatly from respites provided by cool nights. The combination of the extreme temperature swings between day and night make Happy Canyon unique and ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes to optimum ripeness and quality.
Some believe terroir makes the wine. When the Grassini Family decided to plant vines on the property the family had owned for decades, they called upon Jeff Newton and Larry Finkle, the talented creators of Coastal Vineyard Care, to help them realize their dream. The vineyard would be placed in the best, and most experienced, of hands. Ben Merz, the vineyard manager, provides daily direction to the entire team. Ben planned and planted the vineyard in 2002.
Vineyard foreman Manuel Cardoza and his dedicated crew do all the heavy lifting that makes it all possible. Manuel and his crew planted every vine on the estate and it is their dedication that has helped create one of the vineyard jewels of the renowned Santa Ynez Valley. In keeping with the Bordeaux tradition of the estate, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot varietals complement the Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Several unique Cabernet clones, tended by hand, enhance the exceptional wines produced on the estate.
Our Winemaking
The vineyard management team works tirelessly and closely with our winemaker, Bradley Long, to ensure that every vine in the vineyard gets the kind of personal attention that will allow each precious berry to ripen to perfection.
High-density planting, vine crop reduction, hand-training and careful timing of the pick come together to produce the soft tannins and overall balance of the structure, vineyard acid levels, beautiful aromatics, and elegant mouthfeel in the resulting wine.
Each lot from the different vineyard blocks is then fermented separately in small batches to ensure proper fermentation temperatures. As in the vineyard, patience in the wine caves pays off. Both red and white wines are allowed to spend leisurely and generous amounts of time in barrel in order to mature and reach the sought-after balance.
As a result of this attention to detail, our wines accurately express the unique character of this special estate and those who work there. In the Cabernet-based wines, this approach results in the inherent power and richness of the Cabernet grape being balanced with the finesse and elegance that defines its character. In the whites, all of this work is intended to capture the typical freshness and liveliness of the Sauvignon Blanc grape and balance it with concentration and depth.
History Revisited
The Grassini Family winery is as singular as the wines crafted inside. Borrowed and adapted from 17th century southern European approaches, the winery itself is embedded in a prominent hillside with the rear opening into naturally cooling wine caves. The caves ensure humidity and temperature control, while using a fraction of hydrocarbon or electrical energy sources. This practice dates back to Roman times, when wine was stored in catacombs to take advantage of the naturally cool temperature underground.
All the wood in the winery is reclaimed antique fir, having been milled from timbers discovered recently in the Columbia River. The timbers were used in the late 1800s to move materials downriver to lumberjack camps. These same reclaimed timbers were used to build the handcrafted bar in our tasting room in the historic Presidio Neighborhood of downtown Santa Barbara.
The entire winery and vineyard are solar powered and the water used for irrigation is from the estate’s well-fed lake. Additionally, all water used in the wine production process is reclaimed and used to irrigate all of the landscaping surrounding the winery. With a constant eye towards sustainability, both history and the future will be served.