Mike and Lori Lucas began making wine the way a lot of people do, at one of those make-wine-with-us places, with grapes they only knew were from somewhere in Lodi. They graduated to a more serious operation at Crush Pad in San Francisco, and in 2013 began making wine in Paso Robles.
The name is a piece of family history. Dracaena is the genus of the Draco plant, which let them combine their scientific backgrounds, Lori's in biology and Michael's in food science, with the memory of their weimaraner Draco. The dog was named for the northern constellation after they heard it in the 1996 film Dragonheart. When Draco died in 2011 after fourteen years, they bought a Draco tree and kept it where he used to eat.
Cabernet Franc is the house obsession, from the Classic bottling to a single-clone Reserve off Metz Vineyard and a Blanc de Franc made white from the red grape. They are the people behind Cab Franc Day, now a global celebration of the variety. Their current weimaraner, Vegas, appears throughout the brand.
The story behind the labels
Short films from Dracaena Wines's own vineyard footage. When they go live on Vesper this is the same conversation, except you can ask questions and buy the bottle while it is still in their hand.
Sugar does not decide when to pick
Two other things have to happen before the fruit is ready. The seeds turn from green to brown, which means the tannin in them has stopped being harsh, and the skin stops clinging to the pulp. Pick before either and you get alcohol without much else. Plenty can be fixed in the cellar. You cannot unpick fruit.
Wines
A tasting room Dracaena Wines can open from the cellar.
Vesper is live video and a checkout in the same window. Independent wineries broadcast from where the wine is actually made, talk through what is in the glass, and sell it direct without you leaving the stream. Most bottles worth knowing about never reach a shelf near you. This is how you meet them, and the people who made them, anyway.
- 1Follow, and get the call
Following Dracaena Wines means a notification the moment they switch the camera on. Tastings are announced here, not buried in an email list.
- 2Watch and ask
The winemaker pours what is in front of them and talks through it. Chat is open, so the thing you actually wanted to know gets answered on camera.
- 3Buy direct, mid-pour
The wines being poured are purchasable on the spot. Dracaena Wines is the seller of record and ships the order themselves. Vesper only earns a commission when a bottle sells.
Frequently asked
What is Vesper?
Vesper is a live tasting room for independent wineries. Wineries broadcast live video from the cellar or the vineyard, talk through what they are pouring, take questions in chat, and sell those wines direct in the same window. Dracaena Wines is the seller of record and ships orders itself. Vesper takes a commission only when a bottle sells.
Where is Dracaena Wines located?
Dracaena Wines is based in Paso Robles, CA.
What wines does Dracaena Wines make?
Dracaena Wines produces Cabernet Franc, Bordeaux Blend, Rhône Red Blend, Chenin Blanc, Rosé, with vintages spanning 2023–2025.
Can I buy Dracaena Wines wine online?
Yes. You can buy Dracaena Wines's wines directly on Vesper, ranging from $26.00 to $55.00. The winery ships your order directly.
Does Dracaena Wines host live tastings?
Dracaena Wines can host live tastings on Vesper where you watch the winemaker pour and buy featured wines as they're presented.
Do I need a ticket or a reservation to join a tasting?
No. Live tastings on Vesper are free to watch and open to anyone. Follow Dracaena Wines and you are notified when they go on camera. You only pay if you decide to buy a wine.
Can I learn how Dracaena Wines makes its wine before buying?
Yes. This storefront carries a short film from Dracaena Wines's own vineyard footage, covering sugar does not decide when to pick. They are free to watch, no account required.
Who ships my order, and who am I buying from?
Dracaena Wines. On Vesper the winery is the merchant of record: it sets the price, takes the order, and ships the wine directly to you. Vesper handles the video, the checkout, and the payment, and earns a commission on the sale.
Be in the room when Dracaena Wines pours
Following puts you on the list for their next live tasting. Watch from wherever you are, ask the winemaker anything while the bottle is open, and buy direct from the winery in the same window.