WINEMAKER & FOUNDER

Meet Leigh Brown

Lolati Wines honors both my family’s history & the joy I find in making wines that create a memorable experience for others.

I'm an Oregon winemaker with an international background. My father was born in South Africa and much of my family lives there. “Lolati” was the name of my great grandfather’s farm near Cape Town and is loosely translated to "back and forth," which is an apt description of his journey to becoming a farmer.

Similarly, my journey to becoming a winemaker and creating my own brand was a culmination of years of experience, with several twists and turns along the way — a lot of "back and forth" if you will. However, all of this led me to where I am today.

  • I'm originally from Indiana and studied harp performance at Indiana University. After college, I freelanced as a musician on the east coast and waited tables, which got me excited about food and wine. I moved to Oregon in 2006 to study at the Western Culinary Institute and start a new chapter in my life.

    Since then, I have worked for several wineries in the Willamette Valley, which is where I developed my craft as a winemaker. Eventually I became the Assistant Winemaker for Marshall Davis Wines where we make around 45 wines for several other small brands. Somewhere along the way, I realized that facilitating an experience for others that is pleasing to the senses is one of my greatest joys in life, both as a musician and a winemaker.

  • By 2019, I felt a deep desire to make wine I could call my own. I remembered my time working a harvest in the Western Cape ten years prior at a family wine farm. During that time, I fell in love with the vibrant flavors of South African wine and the diversity of grape varietals grown all across the country.

    When thinking about the wines I wanted to make, I decided to experiment with bold varietals, much like those made in South Africa, by using the incredible selection of wine grapes found in the Northwest. I chose to focus primarily on the grapes grown in Washington State and began making the wines in Oregon.

    Today, I continue to channel my creativity through winemaking and playing the harp, eager to share the sensual pleasures of aroma, taste and sound with the Willamette Valley.

HARPIST & WINE MAKER

Listen to Leigh’s Music

The Stripes On Our Labels

There is a fabric originally from Kenya that is commonly used in South Africa and other countries in Africa called Kikoi and is a part of Swahili culture. These woven and dyed fabrics are used for many things, including beach sarongs, beach towels, tablecloths, clothing and bags, etc. I have collected many over the years and just love them! All of my wine labels are inspired by Kikoi that I own and use. They are always bright and cheerful.