Stef Yim
A winemaker and former sommelier known for founding Azienda Agricola Sciara on Mount Etna, Europe's highest vineyard, in Sicily
My Story
Born in Hong Kong and raised in Los Angeles from the age of nine, Stef Yim’s journey into winemaking was far from conventional. His early career was forged in the fast-paced world of Los Angeles hospitality, working late nights as a sommelier and restaurant manager in Santa Monica, West L.A. & Pasadena.
Winemaking Journey
Seeking a career shift and a new chapter in life after getting fed up, his path unexpectedly changed through a chance encounter with winemaking at trade events. Captivated by an elegant, expressive Syrah grown at 3,000 feet on California’s Cobb Mountain back in 2008, Stef formed a transformative friendship with the grower, purchased his volcanic-soil grapes, and plunged headfirst into the craft under direct mentorship. To deepen his technical foundation, Stef decided to move to France in 2010, refining his skills in both vineyard management and cellar craft across the country’s southeastern wine regions while maintaining his wine curator business in L.A & Hong Kong. His global search for unique terroir culminated in late 2015 when he arrived on the northern slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily. Striking a deal within weeks for a high-altitude plot in Randazzo, Yim established his estate, Sciara—named after the local dialetc of lava flows that define the volcano’s dramatic landscape.
Azienda Agricola Sciara
Today, Stef lives directly on his estate, surrounded by ancient Nerello Mascalese vines in Contrada Taccione. His domain spans approximately 6 hectares divided across 9 distinct, micro-parcel plots ranging from 630 meters to nearly 1550 meters above sea level, including rare pre-phylloxera vines over 155 years old. Driven by an unwavering commitment to extreme elevation, low yields, and minimal intervention, Yim produces a limited run of roughly 16,500 bottles annually across 7 unique labels. His work stands as a testament to radical curiosity and passion, capturing the singular, mineral-driven character of Mt. Etna's high altitude volcanic soils. Driven by Stef's dedication, Sciara has achieved global recognition over the last seven years. His first vintage of "1520 meters" label earned a stellar 98 points from James Suckling in 2026. And, as the only Asian winemaker in Europe to receive Gambero Rosso’s Vini Rari title in 2023 and 2025, Stef’s highly coveted wines are now distributed in 13 countries and served at top global restaurants and hotels. Although Stef crafts his wines entirely naturally, he avoids the "natural wine" category. He argues that many consumers mistake flaws and "funkiness" caused by poor winemaking for standard natural wine characteristics. Instead, he prefers to describe his creations as "Authentic Wine"—a term that truly reflects his approach. Equally significant, naming his wines by their altitude in order to exhibit the "Terroir" from the micro climate of each elevation was an unprecedented practice in Europe, yet years later, his groundbreaking philosophy has been fully vindicated. And, despite initial industry skepticism and the harsh realities of making wine at 1,500 meters, Stef persevered—living up to his motto, "Take it Higher." The rest is history.
Contact
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