Lioco Indica 2023

Grapes: Carignan, Valdiguie

Region: Mendocino County, CA

Farming:Organic

LIOCO was conceived in the summer of 2005 in the alley behind Spago Beverly Hills. Wine director Kevin O’Connor and wine salesman Matt Licklider, critical of the heavy-handed wines of the day, wondered if it was possible to make more nuanced wines from California soils. In the early aughts, this was still relatively unknown. By contrast, vineyards in France and Italy were long ago mapped according to quality. It's clear which sites are Grand Cru, Premier Cru, or Village level. In California, there are no maps for this. And so the hunt for special places began. Today, the hunt continues. The winery is owned and operated by husband-wife duo Matt and Sara Licklider and their small team, who spend the majority of their time lost in the wilds of California. With no estate vineyards of its own, LIOCO sources fruit from small, family-owned ranches spread across four hundred miles and five counties. The LIOCO team believes there is a finite number of truly great vineyard sites in every region -- locations with the magic combination of soil, sun, temperature, water, aspect, flora, and fauna. They are drawing the map of these special places, and want you to come along. Their Indica blend comes from three historic Mendocino County ranches all with heritage dry-farmed, head-trained Carignan and Valdiguie vines. These rapidly vanishing California grapes harken back to the Golden State's earliest winemaking efforts.

Food Pairing: This medium bodied chillable red is a great pairing for stuffed peppers, mushroom pizza and richer dishes like shepherds pie.