Lapis Luna Wines

The hero, pursued by one adversity after another, overcomes a long and tortuous journey to achieve the unattainable - the moon. He longs to be redeemed and find his happiness. Stories that have fascinated all generations for centuries. And that's exactly the story you'll see if you pick up a bottle of Lapis Luna California wine and look at the label. After all, extravagant labels are the hallmark of this winery.

Saved winery

Lapis Luna is part of WarRoom Cellars, a company that specializes in restoring and revitalizing declining wine brands and repositioning them in the marketplace so that customers get exactly what they love. Their process has already been proven by several successful acquisitions of wineries that would likely have long since gone out of business. We can mention, for example, Bony Doon Vineyard or The Big Red Monster, which you can also find in our portfolio.

Lapis Luna Winery was founded in 1999. WarRoom Cellars acquired it in 2018, as a 20-year-old traditional wine brand. In July of that year, the brand was relaunched with new labels. The grapes for the winery are supplied by the Pauli family, traditional grape growers from Mendocino County, thus ensuring sufficient quality control.

Lapis Luna translates as stone and moon. It is hard to know why the original founders were inspired by this particular phrase. The main idea could be the complex relationship between the Earth and the Moon, which has fascinated mankind for centuries and challenged them to reach higher and transcend their earthly limits. Very apt for the history of Lapis Luna winery.

Extravagant labels

At first glance, the wines of Lapis Luna will certainly catch your eye with their original label. This graphic label design comes from 400-year-old engravings by the Brussels-born poet Herman Hugo. In 1624, he published the book Pia Desideria (Desires of Love), which included these thematic engravings. Each engraving (and thus the label) depicts a nameless hero overcoming obstacles in a story of longing for redemption. He will only achieve this if he overcomes the long and arduous journey to reach the moon. Incidentally, the entire promotion of the winery revolves around the moon, for example, on the official website you will find a full moon calendar.

The Star Winemaker

Lapis Luna's head winemaker is Nicole Walsh, who has over 25 years of experience in the wine industry and has worked her way up through all positions from winemaking, to vineyard management, to developing relationships with growers.

Nicole is originally from Saginaw, Michigan. She successfully graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in horticulture/wine at a time when there were only two students in the field. This rare opportunity provided her with a hands-on opportunity to be mentored by some of the best professors in the horticulture field with a focus on grape growing and winemaking. During her last semester, she attended Universidad E.A.R.T.H., an institution for sustainable agriculture in Costa Rica. There she improved her Spanish language skills and strengthened her commitment to sustainable agriculture and viticulture.

Nicole Walsh spent nearly two decades in California as winemaker for the iconic Bonny Doon winery. She has numerous 90-plus awards to her credit and is a recognized leader in the Women Owned Winery Movement. Nicole is dedicated to making wines that are true to their terroir.

Quality wines doesn't always have to be expensive

Lapis Luna Winery is dedicated to producing exceptional quality wines that are accessible to all. Fresh and vibrant fruit wines have balanced lively acidity and good structure.

If you like light, fruity and fresh white wines, try the 2022 Sauvignon Blanc. The wines from this vintage have a lovely refreshing flavour, lively acidity, elegant fruit and excellent balance. It scored 91 points in the Wine Enthusiast review.

The red wines are represented by classic varieties such as Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. A truly great and tasty wine is the Limited Reserve Red Blend 2020. This classic red cuvée made in the Bordeaux Blend style, complemented by the Petite Sirah grape variety, is deep ruby in colour with aromas of ripe blueberries, blackberries and chocolate. The varieties are selected separately for their flavour and balance, not for their accumulated sugar. The wine also received a great rating from Wine Enthusiast, a full 90 points. That's a great result, and you can enjoy a typically robust Bordeaux-style Californian cuvée at a very affordable price.

Lapis Luna Winery is not just a brand, but a story about the desire to reach higher, to discover beauty in the everyday and to turn ordinary moments into unforgettable experiences. Their motto, Reach for the Moon, is reflected in every bottle, which carries not only carefully grown grapes, but also a message of an endless journey, the courage to dream and to find beauty where others may overlook it. Lapis Luna wines are thus not only a tribute to nature, but also a small gift for all those who believe that even a journey can be a destination.

7.5.2025