A New California Wine pioneer dreamed up behind Spago Beverly Hills: restrained, oak-free Chardonnay plus Pinot, old-vine Carignan, and Valdiguie, all from organic, dry-farmed ranches. The Lickliders' sleek, retro-cozy room just off the Healdsburg Plaza pours flights and small plates, with live music and industry nights.
125 Matheson St
LIOCO was dreamed up in 2001 in the alley behind Spago Beverly Hills, where a wine director and a wine salesman (O'Connor and Licklider, hence the name) sketched a vision of restrained, European-minded California wine. Now run by Matt and Sara Licklider, it owns no vineyards, sourcing instead from organic, dry-farmed family ranches.
The flagship Chardonnay sees no oak at all (a pointed break from California's buttery norm) alongside Pinot Noir, old-vine Carignan, Valdiguie, old-vine Sauvignon Blanc, and the occasional surprise. The sleek, retro-cozy Matheson Street room, just off the Plaza, pours flights and by-the-glass with small plates, plus industry nights and live music.
Co-Founder & Proprietor
A former sales representative for North Berkeley Imports and a lover of Burgundy, Matt Licklider co-founded LIOCO in 2001, a vision sketched in an alley behind Spago Beverly Hills, to challenge California's high-alcohol, heavily oaked norm. LIOCO owns no vineyards; he and Sara Licklider buy from organic, dry-farmed family ranches and call themselves vintners rather than winemakers.
Proprietor
Sara Licklider came to wine from hospitality and is LIOCO's proprietor alongside Matt Licklider, sharing his taste for restrained, European-minded wines. At the Matheson Street tasting room just off the Healdsburg Plaza she prepares the wine-friendly bites for the Elevated Tasting Experience, served in a private lounge with records spinning on a vintage turntable.
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