Lisa Togni was a history major who completed a Master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in the wine trade. Her parents expected her to be a world traveler, as she was in the import business in San Francisco for Boisset, the French winemaking firm. To their surprise, Lisa came home one day and said that she would like to join her parents at Philip Togni Vineyard.

Today, Lisa and her parents, Birgitta and Philip Togni, are co-owners of Philip Togni Vineyard in Napa, where Lisa is now the winemaker, a position she has held since 2011. Birgitta specializes in the vineyard, and Philip, also a winemaker, is a former student of Emile Peynaud at the University of Bordeaux, where he earned the Diplôme National d’Oenologie

Since rejoining the family, Lisa has participated in harvests at Château Léoville-Barton and worked two vintages in Australia. Based on the continued success of their recent wines, her father noted that the arrangement has worked well for the family

Philip and Birgitta Togni planted their first Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon vines in 1981, and their initial harvest was in 1983. Since then, the Togni’s have focused their energies toward the exclusive cultivation of the Bordeaux red wine varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Their first wines were Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc in 1983, but they are now concentrating on a Margaux-type blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.