About Arroyo Cellars

Twenty-five years of friendship, food and wine. Arroyo Cellars is the family we chose.

Our Story

Arroyo Cellars began with a simple idea: make small-lot wines with intention, integrity, and a whole lot of family. Founded in 2016, our winery grew out of years spent learning the craft together, long before we ever hung a sign on Vasco Row.

Before Arroyo Cellars existed, we all spent weekends helping out at Livermore Valley Cellars, where Chrysanne’s father, Chris Lagiss, owned the winery and Tim worked as the winemaker. It was there—over countless harvests, sticky floors, and late-night punch-downs—that we became a tight-knit crew affectionately known as the cellar rats. Everyone had a Rat nickname.

It was messy, it was hard work, and it was pure joy. Those years shaped our understanding of what wine should be: honest, handcrafted, and shared with people you love.

Arroyo Cellars carries that same spirit forward—family first, craft always, and stories in every bottle. Today, you’ll find one of us behind the bar on any given weekend, pouring wines we helped create and welcoming guests the same way we welcomed each other in the cellar years ago.

An Artisanal and Urban Winery on Vasco Row

Our roots may trace back to the old Livermore Valley Cellars days, but the heart of our winemaking lives right here on Vasco Row. This is where we’ve built something of our own—small-lot wines, made by family, for friends.

We’re not tucked away in rolling hills — we’re right in the middle of Livermore’s dynamic urban wine district. Our tasting room at 2270 Research Drive is a relaxed, welcoming space where you’ll see one of the owners pouring as you meet new friends at the bar.

Being an urban winery lets us focus on what we love most:

  • Working closely with local growers
  • Crafting small-lot wines with a hands-on approach
  • Sharing those wines directly with the people who enjoy them

Friendship in every glass

Every bottle we make is a collaboration — between our winemakers, Tim and John, and the family of owners who lend their talents, palates and opinions along the way.

We’re proud of the recognition our wines have received, including:

  • Gold Medal – 2023 SF Chronicle Wine Competition – 2020 Merlot
  • Double Gold – Orange County Commercial Wine Competition – 2022 Meritage White, Livermore
  • Gold Medal – Orange County Commercial Wine Competition – 2018 Zinfandel

But the highest compliment is still seeing a table of friends sharing a bottle of Arroyo Cellars and lingering over that last pour.

Tim & John - Arroyo Cellars Winemakers

Our Winemaking Philosophy

Our approach is simple:

  • Livermore first – We celebrate the character of Livermore Valley in every bottle.
  • Small lots – Smaller lots mean more attention to detail and more room to experiment.
  • Balance over bravado – We craft wines to be shared with food and friends, not just scored on a sheet.

You’ll find familiar varietals like Merlot, Zinfandel and small-lot blends alongside white and rosé wines that showcase the breadth of our region.