Local Vines, a tasting room at 3393 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette, showcases wines from producers across Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda.
Opened in late 2025, the business brings together growers from the Lamorinda American Viticultural Area (AVA), a federally recognized grape-growing region. It offers tasting flights, wines by the glass and bottles from many of the region’s 14 bonded wineries, plus ciders from Mount Diablo Cider Company, according to an Oct. 16 Diablo Magazine feature.
The federal government published the rule establishing the Lamorinda AVA on Feb. 24, 2016. The rule became effective March 25 and covers approximately 29,369 acres across the three communities.
Diablo Magazine reported about 120 small vineyards in the region. A December 2025 San Francisco Chronicle feature described roughly 100.
Many vineyards occupy residential properties. David Rey, owner of Reliez Valley Vineyards, planted about an acre off Reliez Valley Road in Lafayette in 2006. His winery produces about 100 cases annually, according to Diablo Magazine.
Rey, a management consultant, led the Lamorinda Wine Growers Association’s effort to obtain federal recognition. He called it “an arduous process” involving climate and geology research, the magazine reported.
The hills create varying growing conditions. Rey told Diablo that the western portion is cooler and suited to chardonnay and pinot noir, while his eastern Lafayette vineyard has warmer conditions resembling the northern Napa Valley.
Near the Lafayette Reservoir, Leslie Ward grows pinot noir at Los Arabis Vineyards. She and her late husband planted approximately 1½ acres in 1999, partly to reduce hillside erosion, according to Diablo. Ward sends her grapes to Local Vines for winemaking.
General manager and winemaker Pietro Buttitta oversees production at Local Vines, which has a shared winery beneath the tasting room, Diablo reported. The selection also includes his Lake County label, Prima Materia.
The Chronicle reported in December 2025 that Buttitta also used some local grapes for the house label, Stag Hill Vineyards. At that time, four-pour wine flights cost $10 to $13, with a four-pour cider flight priced at $8.
Lamorinda wines are available elsewhere locally, too. Diablo reported that Diablo Foods carries a small selection and that Postino’s wine list includes Los Arabis, Raisin d’Être and syrah from Orinda’s Crane Terrace Winery.
Visitors can check Local Vines’ website for current tasting information.
