GFF Petite Sirah 2023

The Kapiniaris family has a grape-growing heritage that stretches back generations. It’s just taken about 7,000 miles and a few side roads to bring it to life in the modern era.

Growing up in the 1940s in the village of Koroni, Greece, Gus Kapiniaris (the ‘G’ in GFF) would help his father in their vineyard and sell the wine to local taverns. But as an adult, he chose to pursue other interests.

He emigrated to Canada and became a machinist, which eventually landed him in restaurant kitchens, fixing their industrial equipment. It wasn’t long before he jumped behind the stove, learned to cook and fell in love with the hospitality business. A decade, a marriage and a restaurant of his own later, and he’d finally make his way south, to California.

“I took one look around and said, ‘my God, this is where I want to stay forever,’” says Gus.

Surrounded by vines, he felt drawn back to his roots. And when a friend told him about a 30-acre vineyard for sale in Lodi, he went for it. Now, he and son Frank (one ‘F’ in GFF) run their own family winery, managing 210 acres and making boutique wines with the help of Franck Lambert (the other ‘F’), their winemaker.

Their Petite Sirah is known for its full body, luscious character and rich purple color. Smoky chocolate and black cherry aromas will greet you upon pouring, and lead to a balanced yet bold palate of blackberry and ripe pomegranate.