“Developing a new vineyard takes a stout heart and a steady hand. We are passionate about the “what if” questions, the ones we ask in pursuit of higher and higher quality. We will test the boundaries, always willing to try new things.”
- Louis Ciminelli
Laelius Winegrowing was established in 2015 by Louis Ciminelli, a business leader from New York with over 45 years of construction and project development experience. Though many facets of building construction differ from vineyard development, there are also numerous parallels, among them the initial vision, land surveys, permit acquisitions, and shaping ground. Louis firmly believes the most notable constant is an unwavering commitment to core values: stewardship of trust, passion for improvement, dedication to safety, and commitment to corporate citizenship. Underlying everything he does is the mantra: “Do the right thing.”
It was in the early 1980s when Louis’ expertise in land development and a budding passion for wine laid the groundwork for a career in vineyard development some three decades later. After opening an office for his company in Corning, New York, he was introduced to Hermann Wiemer, a pioneer of viticulture and winemaking in the Finger Lakes. Louis was intrigued by Hermann’s audacious yet successful techniques in the vineyard and his interest in grape growing and wine began.
In 1988, Louis attended two programs at Stanford University in northern California, a short drive from Napa Valley. In the evenings, with bottles of California wines on the table, he met wine-loving classmates from all over the world, including one who was the winemaker for Far Niente. On weekends, Louis and his group of newfound friends ventured to Napa Valley to visit, where he was immediately smitten with the wineries, vineyards, and artisanal culture of Napa Valley. He told himself he would someday develop a family vineyard of his own, to be passed down through generations.
Louis continued to learn about grape growing and wine through his travels over the next two decades. In the mid-1990s, as the Modernist Movement was underway in Piemonte, Italy, Louis was highly interested in the vintners’ quest to innovate and improve winery and vineyard practices. In 1998, traveling to Piemonte for his birthday, he managed to score visits with legendary producers Luciano Sandrone and Elio Altare, ultimately assisting in both harvest and crush.
“I was fortunate to taste Altare’s wines in his home the day he picked his Dolcetto. We walked through his vineyards, and he pointed out where the different varietals were planted and why. I realized these guys were family farmers and understood the importance of place. It was an experience I’ll never forget.”
Nearly 40 years after becoming enamored with the idea of developing vineyards of his own, Louis is now the steward of two prized vineyards in the Napa Valley, both of which serve as the primary source of grapes for his family’s brand, Impensata.
