April Gargiulo

Founder of Vintner’s Daughter

Tell us a bit about you and your company.

I don’t come from the world of beauty; I come from the world of fine winemaking in Napa Valley, California. My family still makes single-vineyard, estate wines there today at  Gargiulo Vineyards  in Oakville. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have spent so much time in a community that places such a high value on craftsmanship and quality.  

I am also someone who, like many, deals with cystic acne, pigmentation and all the fun things that come along with getting older. Pre-Vintner’s Daughter, I was in a constant search for the newest and next product promising flawless skin. They were more often than not very expensive “luxury” products with celebrity endorsements and slick packaging. One day I started looking at their ingredients. I was shocked to realize that they were .01% active ingredients, the rest was low quality filler that was also in many cases harmful. None of that sat right with me. I come from Napa Valley, a community dedicated to making the finest wines in the world through meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship. Shortcuts are not allowed and practically every grain of dirt is considered for its quality.

This was the genesis of  Vintner’s Daughter. I wanted to build a  true  luxury, performance-driven skincare company that made products from the finest ingredients in the world, using time-honored techniques in order to bring about profound and lasting balance and health in the skin. It sounds lofty, but I wanted to build a skincare company on the same philosophical foundations as the winemaking world I had come from.

You’re based between San Francisco and Napa. What are a few of your favorite healthy/locavore spots to eat? 

I love San Francisco dining—(Nari,  The Progress,  Cotogna,  Mister Jiu’s,  A16  to name just a few of our favorites)—but I love wine country even more, so my family and I race up as soon as school is over every Friday. My favorites are  The Valley  on the Sonoma Square. It’s casual with the most incredible farm-to-table food; not too precious, but incredibly precise and committed to the freshest and most beautiful food. I have a friend who says that you can tell how good a restaurant is by some basic elements including salt and butter. They have the best salt and butter. My family’s other go-to is  Gott’s Roadside  in St Helena, which scratches every itch you have for a nostalgic roadside burger joint. It’s hard for me to drive past without getting a soft serve, and some days I drive past it twice. For the vegetable-forward folks (like me), they have everything you want, too. There’s a location in the  Oxbow Market  as well, which is a food hall in downtown Napa with great oysters, coffee, gluten-free Mexican, baked goods and even a small but mighty produce market. It’s right on the Napa River, so it’s also a great spot to relax. 

What are a few experiences in Napa that help you to feel revitalized and connected to the surroundings and community?

I love a walk up and down St Helena’s two block main street. You will see everything from artisanal breadmaker  Model Bakery  (best English muffins ever) to local chocolatier  Woodhouse, to interior design wunderkind  Erin Martin’s  shop to local potter Richard Carter’s gorgeous showroom,  Carter and Co  and  Dion’s. High Street fashion like  Elyse Walker  and hometown hero  Veronica Beard  are also opening up on Main Street. Not to miss—there is a small, old-fashioned movie theater,  The Cameo, that is so sweet to see films in. They even have love seats in the back.  

Hiking is also something I love to do and one of my favorites,  Mount St Helena,  is just outside Calistoga. It’s somewhat unmarked, so you have to follow the force a bit. Look for the trailhead just off of Highway 29 north of Calistoga in Robert Louis Stevenson Park. Follow it to the top and you will be rewarded with views of Napa, Sonoma and Lake County. Calistoga is also the place where people have been “taking the waters” for 100 years and there are famous hot springs where you can soak the hike away. I really like  Indian Springs  and their mud baths. It’s a bit of a throwback, nostalgic experience in the absolute best way.

If you have kids, you have to go to  Train Town  in Sonoma. It’s a sweet, local amusement park that you can dip into and out of in about 45 minutes. Super low effort with big returns. It’s also down the street from The Valley restaurant.  

How do you approach staying healthy and relaxed when you travel by plane? 

I try to avoid processed foods when I travel as much as possible and drink a lot of water. I also just keep a feeling of gratitude and flexibility about it all because so much of it is out of our hands.  

Do you do anything special for your skin? 

The best thing I do for my skin is stay disciplined to a very simple and effective routine. Of course, it is all Vintner’s Daughter and in these three steps I know my skin is receiving everything it needs to be its absolute best.  Active Renewal Cleanser,  Active Treatment Essence  and  Active Botanical Serum  are my holy trinity and all I travel with.  

Do you take any particular supplements prior to traveling or during to stay healthy? 

I am not great about taking supplements and for the most part rely on a healthy whole food diet. I would like to think that is enough.  

Any strategies for dealing with jet lag? 

We always try to jump in water as soon as we get somewhere, whether it is Lake Zurich, a hotel pool in Tokyo or the ocean in Kauai. Somehow it helps us set our body clock to local time.  

Do you have any rituals you use while on a trip to reset and ground yourself in a new place? 

I meditate daily no matter where I am, so that is always there to ground me. I also always pack loose leaf oolong tea from  Song Tea  in SF. This is a deeply connective morning ritual for me. The day isn’t the same if I don’t start here.  

What are a few things you always pack in your Dopp kit? 

Vintner’s Daughter,  Kjaer Weis  or  Gucci Westman  mascara, Goop lip oil. 

Do you have a favorite hat for travel? 

I am a hat person. I always have one on.  The Commando  by Lola Hats is my go-to for travel. It folds up easily and gets back into shape fast on the other side. 

What are a few other favorite travel destinations? 

Lake Como is my forever favorite and  Villa d’Este  is our spot.  Il Gatto Nero  in Cernobbio is a spot we always return to and this last trip we went to  Il Sereno  and  Passalaqua  for two beautiful lunches. We didn’t get a chance to visit on this trip, but I’ve promised myself I’m going to see the gardens at  Villa Carlota  next time. I just took the train from downtown Como to Milan for the first time and that is a game-changer. Forty-five minutes and you are in one of the most dynamic European capitals. That kind of city-to-nature proximity is heaven to me. The Bay Area has that in spades as well. 

San Francisco could really use our travel dollars these days. What are a few spots that you recommend visiting, that are unique to the city and worth traveling for?

Don’t believe everything you read about San Francisco. It’s still one of our most beautiful cities with incredible food, natural beauty, history and culture. It’s a great family holiday city and for that I recommend staying in The Presidio, a national park with two great small hotels,  The Inn at The Presidio  and  Lodge at the Presidio. Don’t rent a car. Uber, walk or bike everywhere. Go to  Golden Gate Park, walk over the Golden Gate Bridge, visit the  deYoung Museum  and the  Academy of Sciences. Hit up the  Farmers Market  Saturday morning at the Ferry Terminal. Take a hike in  Muir Woods  and walk the  Lands End Trail.  Eat at  Marufuku Ramen  in Japantown,  Pizzeria Delfina  and  The Progress  in the nearby Fillmore District. Go see the murals in the mission and stop for a bite at  Good Good Culture’s  beautiful rooftop.  Bi-Rite Creamery  is around the corner. Avoid the scoop shop line and head directly for the soft serve. Take a trolley ride, skip Fisherman’s Wharf, and for the thrill-seekers grab a piece of cardboard and fly down the secret  Seward Street stair slides. 

Where are you dreaming of going next?

Indonesia and Southeast Asia in general are the first places that come to mind. I also want to go back to Madrid. My husband and I lived there in 2009 and haven’t been back since. I can’t wait to see all the changes.