Le Vigne Winery and the Crafting of Italian Heritage in California Vineyards
From high-acid Sangiovese to rare Italian varietals, GM Phillip Anderson blends tradition, patience and terroir to create wines meant for the table and palate.
Dec 27, 2025
Sparkling wine is hardly commonplace in Paso Robles.
Known for its hearty red wines, the region grew a cult following for its Rhone varietals that have drawn world-wide acclaim. Yet at Le Vigne a sparkling wine headlines a delicious portfolio impressively built under the guidance of General Manager Phillip Anderson.
The Le Vigne “Isabella” Sparkling Blanc de Noir 2021 ($38) is made in the traditional method and 100% Sangiovese. It’s as exciting of a sparkling wine as I’ve opened all season and comes from the most unexpected of places.
“We do a great job growing it, we do a lot with it,” Anderson said. “We think about what makes sparkling out of high-acid Sangiovese. There’s naturally high acid, just a tiny bit of red fruit in this case and free-run juice.”
It’s the kind of wine that can become a signature expression, even if it has to be hand-sold a bit in the tasting room.
“People are shocked at the high quality level of it,” Anderson said. “We have great autolytic notes. Some people go in cautious and are pleasantly surprised. No one is beating down the door for a Blanc de Noirs made from Sangiovese, but they are beating down the door for high-quality sparkling wine.”
With a little more exposure, the doors at Le Vigne should be getting more of a work out because this is a sparkling wine patient crafted that sought out and achieved the proper mix of balance and concentration.
Similarly, the Le Vigne red wines were well balanced, expressive of their terroir and very reasonably priced.
While capturing acidity is rarely an issue in Paso Robles, their hot days are followed by cold nights which help retain the juicy features of a wine, Le Vigne takes exceptional steps to make sure its reds aren’t over extracted and flabby.
Le Vigne makes juicy, food friendly Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Le Vigne Estate Cabernet Sauvignon di Domenico 2021 ($51) had flavors of currant, blackberry and black licorice with well integrated tannins and a juicy, soft mouthfeel. A classy cabernet which will be interesting to follow over the years, its fresh acidity could lead to a very nice life in the cellar for anyone that chooses to wait before pulling the cork.
Not to be outdone, the Le Vigne Paso Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 ($28) is a great introduction to the winery with its concentrated dark fruit: black berry, plum with notes of seared meat, floral aromas and garrigue. There’s a juicy finish and a very plush mouthfeel. There’s pleasure in every sip.
Despite its complexity, Le Vigne wines remain approachable.
Le Vigne Gm Phillip Anderson in the winery’s Paso Robles vineyards.