Levendi Winery

Levendi Winery is owned by the Gianulias family; they have a centuries long tradition of making wine in Greece. We first reached out to them many years ago and met at Laird Family Winery where they were making their wine at that time. James Gianulias has built a lengthy and very successful career in property development. G Companies, still family run, with roots from 1949 was originally known as Hester Development and then later known as Cameo Homes. Today G Companies is based in Newport Beach, California and develops single and multi-family real estate (under the Silver Oaks Communities division of the company) while also serving as a property management company (Mesa Management). Their contributions to southern California and parts of the southwestern United States are significant; over the years they have built over 60,000 homes and 7,000 apartments in these locations. The company has also developed commercial/retail/office buildings, ranch properties, golf courses and wineries. The company is overseen by James Gianulias and his son David.

The company is also invested in a variety of other assets including owning the 18-hole semi-private golf Chardonnay Golf Club & Vineyards located at Jameson Canyon along Highway 12 about a 20-minute drive southeast of the city of Napa. This site is also planted to surrounding vineyards including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Merlot – also owned by the Gianulias family. The family uses some of the grapes on site for their own wines. And on the big island of Hawaii, they own the 221-acre Kona Coffee Farm located directly above the town of Kailua-Kona at an elevation ranging from about 1,500 to 2,000 feet.

James, David and family friend Todd Rustman are founders of Levendi Winery; today David is primarily involved in the management of Levendi’s operations.

The name “Levendi” in Greek is a toast referring to a toast to “celebrate life” and wine’s memorable moments or in Greek, yasou, a word people say when wishing one good health.

Levendi’s winemaker Alison Doran was born and raised in the Los Angeles area and began her career in winemaking in 1973 as a harvest intern working at Simi Winery in Sonoma County which her father had purchased in 1969. André Tchelistcheff was hired as a consultant for Simi Winery; Alison spent time working with and learning from him. She has a degree in winemaking from UC Davis and later worked in Alsace, France and at several wineries in California’s Central Coast. She has been a winemaker for more than 45 years, is Levendi’s founding winemaker and has crafted every one of their wines since their inaugural vintage in 2000.

Select Wines/Winemaking
Levendi sources grapes from several premium vineyards throughout the valley including the very well-regarded Stagecoach Vineyard high on the slopes of Atlas Peak. Levendi focuses on producing 100% varietal wines, primarily Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. They have produced a number of Chardonnays over the years including from the Red Hen Vineyard in the Oak Knoll sub-appellation and from the Cold Creek Vineyard on the Sonoma side of Carneros sub-appellation.

Rosé
The 2021 Levendi Rosé of Pinot Noir Nicolleta is named after James’ mother. She had four boys; during our visit to their tasting room, one of the hosts told us, “A woman who gives birth to and raises four boys will have a special place in heaven”! Regardless, the family has honored her nicely with this beauty. This is one of the finest Rosé wines from 2021 that we tried from a Napa Valley producer. This wine is pale salmon/copper colored in the glass; it offers an elegant bouquet with aromas of wild strawberry, fresh rose petals, crushed rock, some minerality notes and red apple. This wine is rounded with a noticeable but lighter texture across the palate; it features bright acidity, balance and engaging fruit flavors. Very nicely done. This is a food friendly bottling; we immediately thought of pairing it with sea bass or halibut.

Sauvignon Blanc
The 2023 Levendi Christopher Sauvignon Blanc, Oakville Napa Valley is medium straw in color; both floral and tropical fruited, its scents include honeysuckle, star jasmine, citrus blossom, lychee, pineapple guava along with white nectarine, golden apples and an underlying note of lime. This bouquet is highly attractive and in a blind tasting of other Napa Valley Sauvignon Blancs we hope we would be able to pick it out due to its compelling aromatic profile. This wine is balanced, bright and shows plenty of sunshine and ripeness despite its refreshingly low 13% listed ABV. On the palate there are flavors of pineapple, guava, lychee, passion fruit, carambola, white nectarine, Babcock peach and honey dew melon. Its lightly fleshy texture is complemented nicely by its lively but balanced acidity. Very flavorful, this wine is a pleasure to drink. This wine would pair nicely with our special spicy raw salmon dish, mixed with our special Thai sauce, garden fresh fish mint, Vietnamese coriander (rau răm), sliced lemongrass and sawtooth leaves (ngò gai).

Chardonnay
The 2020 Levendi Napa Valley Chardonnay is medium golden in color; the bouquet reveals aromas of butter, Golden Delicious apple, honeycomb, citrus blossom, tropical fruit notes and some lighter dessert spices. It is creamy and rounded across the palate but not oaky nor buttery. Offers flavors of lemon, kiwi, apple, other citrus notes, mineralities and a slight crushed rock nuance. Those who have never favored Chardonnay would do well to try this bottling! This wine is deftly balanced across the palate and lingers with a bright finish.

The 2016 Levendi Napa Valley Estate Chardonnay shows a luminous lemon-peel yellow in the glass. It opens with an elegant, expressive bouquet, revealing layers of butterscotch, mango, and ripe banana, underscored by a warm baking-spice sweetness—brown sugar, nutmeg, and a gentle note of melted butter. Altogether, it feels like an olfactory dessert, inviting and indulgent without being overdone. This wine is rounded, supple, and creamy, yet avoids any sense of heaviness or viscosity. It carries a pleasing textural density that adds depth while maintaining balance and freshness. Flavors of pineapple and ripe Golden Delicious apple come forward, vibrant and well-integrated. The finish lingers gracefully, echoing baking spices, soft butter, and a delicate kiss of vanilla. Enjoyable on its own, this Chardonnay offers a polished, satisfying experience from start to finish.

Reds
Merlot
The 2022 Levendi Mystique Merlot, Napa Valley is 95.5% Merlot and 4.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is medium to deep ruby in color; the bouquet smells ripe, representative of a warmer vintage which a times later in the season, expressed extreme heat. Fresh berries including blackberry, boysenberry and mulberry greet the nose with an immediacy powered by ripe fruit, along with layers of dark chocolate, mocha and cocoa powder. The brightness from the juicy acidity balances out the fruit across the palate; this wine tastes like boysenberry, red cherry, blackberry, dark raspberry and Persian mulberry. The oak takes a comfortable back seat to the conversation, there, but never dominating. This wine finishes juicy and red fruited anchored by lightly gravelly, dusty and chalky textured tannins, felt more on the front of the palate. Both texture, acidity and fruit parallel each other for quite some time, with none pulling ahead of the others. This wine is showing in a sweet spot four years post vintage. We would pair this with a variety of cuisine ranging from pizzas, pastas to lamb or pork shoulder.

Symphonia Red Blend
The 2020 Levendi Symphonia Red Blend, Napa Valley is 61% Merlot, 14% Petit Verdot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Malbec. It is truly a symphonic blend showcasing both varieties and a diverse topography ranging from vineyards in Oak Knoll in the south to Calistoga in the north and even a small amount from Bennett Valley in neighboring Sonoma County. This wine is deep ruby and completely opaque; the bouquet shows an immediate intensity of both darker and red fruits including blackberry, boysenberry, Himalayan purple mulberry, Satsuma plum, cherry and cranberry. Forward fruited. Its time in oak contributes a light toast, smoked cedar, and a hint of pepper. The strength of fruit holds up to the influences of oak. Superbly balanced across the palate, the palate is an expression of both ripeness, power, yet also restraint. It tastes like dark plum, boysenberry, blackberry and dark cherry with flavors supported by a bright and vibrant acidity. Finishes with ripe, soft and well-rounded tannins, a note of old cedar, a light toasty character and a gentle but lingering warmth in the back of the palate. For crowd-friendly appeal, this wine stands out. We tasted this wine 6 years post vintage.

Cabernet Sauvignon
Sweetwater Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon was the first wine produced by Levendi in 2001; their first retail outlet was Antonello Restaurant in Orange County (see our notes below). The name of the wine was taken from the same name of the vineyard in Oak Knoll (owned and farmed by the Laird family). The Levendi’s produced this wine from this site for many years but no longer do so. However, they kept the Sweetwater name but dropped the word ‘ranch’.

The 2020 Levendi Sweetwater Cabernet Sauvignon is 92.4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7.6% Merlot from vineyards located in the southern part of Napa Valley including Coombsville, Oak Knoll and Yountville. This wine is deep ruby and opaque. The bouquet is a union of both fruit and barrel influence; it smells like blackberry jam, boysenberry pie, dark plums and black cherries with layers of baker’s chocolate, mocha, cocoa powder and a light kiss of baking spices. This wine smells nice and you would never guess from its aromatics this was an intense wildfire year in Napa Valley. This is an expression of what the vintage should have been for most producers, but unfortunately significant smoke taint was a serious issue. On the palate there is some energy, but its overall cadence is a softer expression of the variety. This tastes like blackberry harvested early in the season, boysenberry, Persian mulberry, red cherry, dark currants and red plums. Finishes with dusty and chalky textured tannins, fully coating the palate with a moderate but persistent drying grip. And it also lingers with a light note of dried tobacco leaf and a subtle hint of smoke.

The 2018 Levendi Sweetwater Cabernet Sauvignon shows a medium to dark ruby color in the glass, with a clarity that reflects both its youth and careful structure. The bouquet is refined and elegant, opening with aromas of sandalwood, red cherry, and licorice, complemented by deeper wood tones including cedar. With a bit of time in the glass, more subtle layers begin to emerge—dessert and darker spices gently rise in the background, including clove, cardamom, and a faint touch of white pepper, adding aromatic complexity without overwhelming the core fruit. This wine is well-composed and energetic, with a lively juiciness that carries the flavors through the mid-palate. The tannins remain tightly woven, providing a moderate but noticeable grip that frames the wine’s structure while still allowing its fruit to shine. Notes of cherry and darker-toned nuances unfold alongside hints of dried tobacco leaf, adding a savory edge. The finish is persistent and balanced, with both freshness and structure holding steady, suggesting this wine will continue to evolve nicely with additional cellaring.

The 2018 Levendi Legacy Cabernet Sauvignon is dark ruby in color, with a richness in the glass that hints at its depth and concentration. The bouquet leans toward sweeter aromatics, offering notes of licorice and dark cherry at first approach. As it opens, additional layers emerge, including a distinct impression of an old cedar box, lending both character and a subtle sense of ageworthiness to the aromatic profile. Across the palate, the wine reveals considerable layering and depth, driven more by darker fruits than red—led by dark cherry and plum. These core flavors are complemented by notes of cassis and dark chocolate, adding both richness and a touch of indulgence. The texture is polished, with a seamless flow from entry through mid-palate. The finish is bright and juicy, supported by noticeable yet well-integrated tannins that provide structure without overshadowing the fruit. It lingers impressively, with a very long, satisfying finish that continues to echo its darker fruit and chocolate tones. Overall, the wine is well balanced and remarkably approachable in its youth—we tasted it just under four years from the vintage—while still clearly possessing the structure to evolve further with time.

Two of our favorite red wines from Levendi are the Symphonia and Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Both are elegant wines which come from grapes that are grown entirely in different areas of the valley. Symphonia is wine made from valley fruit contrasted while the Stagecoach Vineyard is located at an elevation of about 1500 feet, high on the slopes of Atlas Peak, a vineyard that was founded by Jan Krupp but is now owned by GALLO.

The 2016 Levendi Stagecoach Cabernet Sauvignon presents a deep, dark ruby hue in the glass, hinting at both its concentration and youthful energy. The bouquet is initially nuanced and slightly reserved, offering aromas of dried herbs, hints of pepper, and sage, layered with higher-toned red fruits such as cherry. Given time to breathe, the wine evolves beautifully, revealing more expressive fruit aromatics alongside subtle notes of mocha and a gentle thread of dried tobacco leaf, adding complexity and intrigue. The palate expresses a bright and youthful vibe, carried by fresh acidity that persists from entry through the finish. Flavors of red cherry and currant are at the forefront, delivering both clarity and lift. The finish is juicy and lively, anchored by persistent, chewy tannins that provide structure without any coarse edges. As it lingers, the wine maintains its balance between freshness and depth, leaving a polished and energetic impression.

The 2008 Levendi Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is deep ruby; the sporty bouquet offers aromas of licorice, dark raspberries, red plum, dried cherry, blueberries, bramble, and dried herbs including thyme. As the wine evolves in the glass, darker baking, spices begin to show. This wine is fresh and lively, and still youthful on both the bouquet and the palate. It should be noted that we tried this wine out of a 3L bottling 16 years post vintage. It reveals flavors of red cherry and plum. The gravelly and granny tannins exhibit a firm, drying and persistent grip. This is still very much a textural driven wine. It finishes brightly with plenty of acidity showing. Mouthwatering and savory. It offers a great deal of depth, both in terms of flavor and texture.

For some years, the wines were available for tasting at the Tasting Room at Napa Wine Company in Oakville (where Levendi currently produces their wines). However, in early 2019, this tasting room was converted to showcase wines from Ghost Block and all other clients, including Levendi, no longer taste their wines here.

Tasting Room, Downtown Napa
In early April 2022, Levendi Winery opened a tasting room in downtown Napa at 1465 1st Street in the space that formerly was used as a bank, then for Gordon Heuther’s downtown Napa art gallery (one of Gordon’s sculptures still stands at the entrance to the corridor leading off from 1st Street), followed by Studio M (a high-end wine salon) and more recently, Cornerstone Cellars. Gordon’s version of the Napa River, inlayed into the floor has fortunately survived the transition throughout all the occupants, since he vacated the building years ago.

This is the heart of downtown with numerous tasting rooms and restaurants located within a short walking distance.

The space is about 2,000 square feet and encompasses the corner building between 1st street and the tiny alley across the street from the Andaz Hotel and next to Oenotri Restaurant. Archer Hotel is only several blocks walk away. This tasting room offers both indoor and limited outdoor seating (although no tasting is currently permitted outside), small bites including charcuterie and wines by the flight, glass or by the bottle. As of our latest update to this review, Levendi sources their small bites from Oxbow Wine & Cheese Merchant located in the nearby Oxbow Public Market. Because they do not have a commercial kitchen on site, all reservations requesting small bites must be made at least a day in advance and are not available to walk-in customers. St. Helena based Pane Vino provides the delicious breadsticks which are available for enjoying between sips of Levendi wines.

The interior was renovated over a span of nearly 6 months including the addition of reclaimed wood from an old barn and the installation of live oak wood shelving behind the bar created by Steve Mensinger. Steve is a long-time executive who has worked with the Gianulias family for many years and was also a former mayor of the city of Costa Mesa in Orange County. During our visit, the staff had all worked with the Gianulias family for years and were extremely knowledgeable about the Levendi wines.

The Napa Crush
In Spring 2023 the folks at Levendi Winery published their first printed edition of The Napa Crush. This community oriented and quarterly published newspaper serves as a guide to primarily downtown businesses including tasting rooms, restaurants and various shops, but also sometimes publishes content about up valley places. The newspapers are sold locally and sent to both downtown residents and businesses.

Antonello Ristorante and Enoteca Lounge
The Levendi wines are featured in Antonello Ristorante and Enoteca Lounge located in the immense South Coast Plaza in Orange County. Antonello Ristorante showcases the Levendi Room – a private room upstairs which can comfortably seat up to 14 people. A number of Levendi wines and vintages are contained on site in a temperature-controlled space. In a world of an always changing culinary scene (especially so in Los Angeles and Orange County) it is rare when one finds a restaurant this old; founded in 1979, they are still going strong and are arguably Orange County’s most decorated and well-regarded Italian culinary space. During a recent visit, many of the patrons seemed to be good friends with the wait staff and employees and many had obviously eaten here numerous times.

The cuisine focuses on home-made Italian food including excellent salads, pasta and meat dishes (the Ossobuco is delicious, complete with a small fork stuck in the bone to retrieve the delicious marrow). The restaurant also features an extensive wine list from not only domestic producers but plenty of Italian producers as well. The Levendi Room is one of several private rooms that can be reserved for private parties. A very well stocked and happening bar is located on the first floor. We have eaten here several times and have always found the wait staff to be highly attentive and personable.

Chardonnay Golf Club & Vineyards
is owned by the Gianulias family and is located off of Jameson Canyon Road; the main entrance is almost directly across the highway from Laird owned Sunrise Ranch Winery. This 18-hole semi-private golf course is located among 150 acres of wine grapes including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Merlot. Somewhat unusual is the fact that the course is not lined with homes – but has a feel of being wide open with plenty of open space.

Because there are grapes growing near the course and parts of the property are designated as wildlife preserves, they only use organic fertilizers on the greens and water use is restricted to re-claimed water from the Napa Sanitation department.

A small golf shop is on site as is The View Bar And Grill (offering both breakfast and lunch 7-days a week) with a full bar service and both indoor and outdoor seating with views overlooking the greens. Very friendly and helpful staff. And naturally several of the Levendi wines are served here.

The wines are fairly well distributed in select markets throughout the United States. For more information, to purchase wine and or to join the Levendi Cellar Club, visit: www.levendiwinery.com

Winemaking at Napa Wine Co. (current winemaking site)