Villicana Winery was created as the result of an unsuccessful culinary school. After college, Alex Villicana decided to pursue his love of food and wine by enrolling in a culinary program. When the school failed to open, he turned his attention to winemaking and accepted a job working the 1990 grape harvest in Paso Robles. Captivated by this craft and eager for more knowledge, Alex began taking viticulture and enology courses. He made his first commercial wine, a 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon, three years later.
In 1996, still enamored by the winemaking process, Alex and his wife Monica purchased 72 acres on the west side of Paso Robles and with the collaboration of family and friends planted their 13 acre vineyard. Keeping their day jobs in Southern California, they commuted each weekend to Paso Robles to farm their vineyard. Eventually the trip would include a stop in Santa Maria where they made their small lot, craft wines at a cooperative crush facility.
By 2000, Alex and Monica were ready to break ground on their own winery in the Adelaida Hills. Two years later, the years of commuting and working two jobs finally paid off when the couple moved their young family to Paso Robles to work the winery and vineyard full-time. Since April of 2002 Alex and Monica have placed their sole focus on this venture and most often they are working the tasting bar in their quaint tasting room.
It took a lot of mileage on their car and a big leap of faith to pursue this lofty dream. Now 16 years later, their award winning wines and friendly spirit are not only a testament to their labor of love; they are another example of what makes the Paso Robles wine region so unique.
