Wonderwerk
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Country of Origin: USA
Location: Los Angeles
People: Issamu Kamide & Andrew Lardy, Owners & Winemakers
Viticulture: Practicing Organic
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Wonderwerk is the creation of lifelong friends Issamu Kamide and Andrew Lardy, two Virginia natives who found their way to California by very different paths. Andrew left behind a graduate program in neuropsychology when he realized the lab bench was too clinical and abstract. Drawn to the tangible alchemy of fermentation, he enrolled in the Fresno State enology program, later honing his skills at wineries along California’s Central Coast.
Issamu, meanwhile, returned from a stint in Brazil to pursue brand management studies in Virginia before moving to Los Angeles to work in food and beverage. Frequent trips north to visit Andrew sparked a deeper fascination with wine; Issamu went on to earn his WSET Level 3 and immerse himself in tasting and study. Eventually, the friends decided it was time to stop working on other people’s ideas and channel their own. Wonderwerk was born.
Based in Los Angeles, Wonderwerk makes wines for the next generation of drinkers—wines that are naturally made, flavor-forward, accessible, and full of energy. Every bottle begins with a concept, a look, a moment, a vibe before becoming liquid in the glass. Their range spans from low-intervention classics to highly experimental projects, always with an emphasis on creativity, value, and sheer drinkability.
The project’s spark came after a long night on a disco dance floor at Despacio, a high-fidelity, vinyl-only sound system pioneered by James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem) and the Dewaele brothers (Soulwax/2manydjs). Immersed in that euphoric atmosphere, Issamu and Andrew asked: “How do we make a wine that captures this feeling?” The answer became Wonderwerk’s first wine Discovino Donna Rosé and the ethos behind everything that’s followed: wines that invite you to join the party.
Vineyards & Cellar
Wonderwerk sources fruit from organically farmed and sustainably managed vineyards across California. These growers are chosen not only for the quality of their fruit, but also for their respect for the land. Most vineyards follow organic practices (many in the process of certification), with sustainability as the baseline requirement. Sometimes Issamu and Andrew seek out a specific variety or flavor profile; other times, the vineyard finds them. Either way, the farming partnerships ensure integrity in every bottle.
In the cellar, their philosophy is simple: native fermentation, no fining or filtration, and minimal sulfites only when necessary. This straightforward, hands-off approach allows each wine to remain vibrant, playful, and expressive of both vineyard and idea. At the same time, Wonderwerk leaves room for boundary-pushing experimentation, exploring new directions in fermentation to keep things fresh and unexpected.
Collaborations
True to their community-driven spirit, Wonderwerk has partnered with Andrea Jaramillo of Mas Vino Please to create a line of natural wines celebrating Latinidad culture and joy. These bottles merge Wonderwerk’s adventurous sensibility with Andrea’s mission to make space for heritage, inclusivity, and connection through wine.
About the Name
The name Wonderwerk comes from Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa, an archeological site containing one of the earliest known signs of human cooking—a million-year-old hearth where fire was first harnessed for nourishment and pleasure. For Issamu and Andrew, it’s the perfect metaphor: humans shaping nature not only for survival, but also for enjoyment, creativity, and community.