'I move at the speed of quality' – inside the slow-living rituals that keep Vintner’s Daughter’s founder grounded

From the sun-drenched vineyards of Napa Valley where she was raised to the busy streets of San Francisco she now calls home, April Gargiulo has mastered the art of intentional living. As the founder of Vintner’s Daughter – a cult-favorite skincare brand that counts Gwyneth Paltrow and Hailey Bieber as fans – she approaches her beauty business the same way her family approached winemaking: uncompromisingly. Each item in her hyper-curated product line takes weeks to produce, not hours.

'I move at the speed of quality,' says April. At home in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights, this ethos extends beyond the bottles: Gargiulo surrounds herself only with items she loves and focuses on time with family. Between running a B Corp-certified business and raising two children, Gargiulo has discovered that meaningful rituals, from meditative morning moments to family dinners, aren’t just luxuries, but a necessary part of life.

April Gargiulo shares exclusively with us how these grounding practices bring her back to what matters most

How has your Napa Valley upbringing and the blossoming of your Vintner's Daughter brand influenced how you approach creating comfort in your urban San Francisco home?

Napa Valley has created the lens from which I measure so much – the makers’, growers’, designers’, etc perspectives on quality, craftsmanship, and intention all go into my appreciation of what I'm surrounded by, from food to clothes to furniture and everything in between.

Tell us a bit about your home style. Beyond aesthetic beauty, what makes a house truly feel like 'home' to you?

I am an avid collector and love being surrounded by the pieces I have brought into the fold over the years. Each piece tells a story of the maker and where and when I found it. For me, that creates a grounding 'home' energy.

What daily rituals help you stay grounded amid the demands of being a founder?

Tea is a practice for me and something I cherish every day. It's a ritual that grounds and connects me to Mother Nature and her rhythms. My teaware is also part of the ritual and I use a cup from a Hella Jongerius + Royal Copenhagen collaboration that I bought in Copenhagen over a decade ago. I'm probably too attached to the set. I scour eBay for them all the time because my exact cup is no longer in production.

You're also a wife and a mother of two children… Are there any rituals you practice together as a family at home?

We eat dinner together every night. Sometimes it's homemade and sometimes it’s takeout and more often than not a combination of the two. We have a gratitude practice we share with each other each night as well. With everyone’s busy schedule, this is a beloved piece of our lives.

So many people use skincare as a ritual. As a beauty brand founder, how do you develop products that feel right for a ritual?

Uniquely, we begin every formulation with the world's most nutrient-rich whole plants. The process takes three to five weeks and is 66 times slower than the industry average. We are uncompromising in how we execute it because it is the only way to make formulas that can truly speak the skin’s innate language. Within this is not only a deeper connection to the skin but a deeper connection to the self because each formula application is done with intention. It's hard to explain, but there is a deep reverence for our formulas by our community and the place they hold in their self-care rituals.

Why do you believe rituals are important in your home life?

For me, rituals are grounding touchpoints in a day that at times can feel a bit hectic and rushed. They slow things down and allow for moments of appreciation, reflection and gratitude.

What simple home rituals would you recommend to someone seeking to create more calm and sanctuary in their living space?

No surprise, I'm in the ‘only keep what you love’ club. I used to have to be 70% love to keep it, but as I get older the bar is set higher. Now I have to be 90% love. If only I could get my kids past 20%.

What does 'luxury' mean to you in the context of having a ritual? You've said 'generosity is the essence of luxury' – can you elaborate?

Generosity, gratitude, and contentment are all pieces of luxury for me. These qualities suggest a place of abundance versus FOMO [fear of missing out], which I think drives a lot of desire for today’s high-ticket items. And it's only human, I am guilty of coveting the most fleeting of 'luxury' trends.

In your business you focus on 'moving at the speed of quality' and believe that 'less is more' – how does that influence your life at home?

We know our community at Vintner’s Daughter is made up of the most discerning women in the world who deeply consider what they bring into their lives. I am one of those discerning women and what I bring into my home must live up to a very high set of standards – design, respect, intentionality, material, sustainability, and more.

I believe in moving at the speed of quality and only buying or sourcing items that bring me joy. I also have no time for products that use fear or insecurity to convince me to buy them. I want to be surrounded by fewer, more truly beautiful things.

My Ritual is a new series from Homes & Gardens, exploring the daily practices and mindful moments that help leading tastemakers find balance in their busy lives. Part of our sanctuary and wellness content, it’s designed to inspire calm, clarity, and connection – wherever you are in your day.

Vinter's Daughter is available at Nordstrom.