LIOCO was conceived in the alley behind Spago Beverly Hills by wine director Kevin O’Connor and wine salesman Matt Licklider. The two colleagues, critical of the heavy-handed wines of the day, wondered if it were possible to make some local wines that favored nuance over sheer power. In 2005, relying on nothing more than their palates and their rolodexes, the two embarked on a winemaking odyssey. Europe was the inspiration, as were the more restrained California wines of the 1980’s.
Today the winery is owned and operated by the Licklider family. Husband/wife duo Matt and Sara Licklider and their small team produce the wines at a state-of-the-art winemaking cooperative in Santa Rosa.
All of the fruit is sourced from exceptional vineyards spanning 400-miles and five counties (Sonoma, Mendocino, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Yolo).
The focus is on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Carignan from sites with older vines, interesting soil, and heritage clones. Sometimes the hunt for Pinot Noir uncovers other treasures like a coastal Syrah vineyard or a rare, mid-century planting of Valdiguie. Room is made for such discoveries.
Welcome to our journey!
Matt & Sara
Matt Licklider
Founder, CEO
Sara Licklider (aka SKL)
General Manager, Proprietor
Drew Huffine
Winemaker
Maegan Lavelle
Director of Hospitality/DTC
Sam Farries
Direct Sales Manager
Andrew Pellegrino
Tasting Room Associate
Mike O'Neel
Tasting Room Associate
