Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Giugni.
Hi Gina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a second-generation biodynamic farmer and winemaker, with my father’s trade as my inspiration. I grew up in Orange County but moved as a child to Sierra Foothills of Northern California, where my family planted a vineyard and started to make wine. I studied biology + winemaking in college, then traveled to work for different biodynamic wine producers in France, New Zealand, Oregon, and Napa. I started making my own wine, Lady of the Sunshine, in 2017. I farm my own biodynamic vineyards I lease in the SLO Coast AVA of the Central Coast since 2018. The vineyard I farm has been certified Demeter biodynamic since 2020. Today, my husband and I run our 2 brands, Lady of the Sunshine and Scar of the Sea, at our charming custom winery (former autobody shop) just outside of downtown SLO.
All of the Lady of the Sunshine wines are farmed either by myself, my father at Narrow Gate Vineyards, or our friends, with a deep respect for the land & the future of our planet at the forefront.
All the wines are made with native yeast, no adjustments, all neutral French oak, and bottled unfined & unfiltered, always.
All the pieces of artwork for the labels are hand-stitched embroideries inspired by an original 1950s pattern from @benjotaylor grandmother and brought to life with the help of my dear friend @harvestgoodsco.
My mother’s handwriting is on the cork; mine is all other script & doodles. no capsules, lightweight, highly recyclable green glass, & natural cork are all intentional, along with an ingredients list so you know what you are putting into your body.
These wines are a compilation of many intentions, things I love, and layers of self-evolution, all folded together over time. This lineup will continue to take shape and change as I change, but it is a snapshot of who I want to be and where I want to keep going.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As the words sustainable and natural become more and more trendy, it’s been a struggle to see these words greenwashed by larger companies to connect with their consumers. As a farmer, I am at the forefront of climate change and seeking solutions to farm for a better world, as we are only stewards of the land now, taking care of it for the next generations to come. This is why I believe strongly in certification that carries accountability and authenticity to farming practices. I work closely with the Demeter Association for biodynamic certification of our farming and our winemaking.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a biodynamic farmer, focused on farming in sync with the natural rhythms of mother nature, with an emphasis on restoring biodiversity to what lives below and above the soil of the vineyard. I farm in this way to preserve the purity of the land that can be expressed in the natural wines I make, that help to tell my story of terroir and also something deeper, microbial terroir, which is also the vitality of the vineyard.
I hope that through my wines, Lady of the Sunshine, I can inspire others by sharing my journey through biodynamic farming and making natural wine to heal our broken food /farming systems.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Find your niche and pursue it wholeheartedly – biodynamics was something that always fascinated me and became something that was the criteria for where I pursued work in order to learn as much as I possibly could. Surround yourself with a community of like-minded thinkers, books, wines, etc., and don’t be afraid to travel to immerse yourself in a new place to make this happen.
Pricing:
- My wines range from $36-$46/bottle
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ladyofthesunshinewines.com
- Instagram: lady.of.the.sunshine
Image Credits
Summer Staeb
