Wineries

Friendly Noise

111 Poindexter Ave, Ste D, Moorpark, CA 93021
www.friendlynoise.com

Region: Ventura County

Owners: Peter Clausen and Andrew Sylvia

Winemakers: Peter Clausen and Andrew Sylvia

About: We make casual, party-pleasing low interventions wines from underappreciated grapes and growing regions.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Picpoul

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Drinking delicious, dry, bubbly Muscadine wines in North Carolina and absolutely loving them!

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? There is more freedom to create and more freedom to enjoy them than there are with more mainstream grapes.

Kunin Wines

74 Aero Camino, Goleta 93117
www.Kuninwines.com

Region: Santa Barbara County

Owner: Magan Eng

Winemaker: Jonathan St. Vincent and Magan Eng

About: We’re a small boutique winery with a passion for making single variety wines of beauty and distinction. We are influenced by the wines of the Rhône and captivated by the terroirs of Santa Barbara County.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Mourvèdre

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Pelaverga

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? A chance to remember them/learning to see them.

Los Pilares Wine

Durbin Road, Santa Ysabel, CA
lospilareswine.com

Region: San Diego County

Owner: Coleman Cooney

Winemaker: Michael Christian and Coleman Cooney

About: Los Pilares is a long-term exploration of high-altitude viticulture in the mountains of San Diego County, founded by Katie Fawkesmoore, Coleman Cooney, Jay McCarthy, and Michael Christian. Before Los Pilares, they were backyard vignerons, garage winemakers, or wine industry professionals. Since the first vintage in 2010, they have been showcasing the terroir of San Diego’s backcountry and mountains by making wine with nothing but grapes, and sometimes apples. All the fruit comes from sustainable vineyards and orchards grown in the backcountry and mountains of San Diego County.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Assyrtiko

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Drinking young Tintilla Sardo wines in Spain

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? They extend the spectrum of flavors, textures, and aromas.

Luna Hart Wines

2825 Tapadero Road, Solvang CA 93463
www.lunahartwines.com

Region: Santa Barbara County

Owner: Gretchen Voelcker

Winemaker: Gretchen Voelcker

About: At the heart of Luna Hart’s philosophy is a commitment to vineyards practicing sustainable, organic, or biodynamic farming throughout the enchanting landscapes of Santa Barbara County. Gretchen’s vision is to create wines that resonate with the very soul of the grapes—their origin, vintage, and variety—a true reflection of the terroir. Immerse yourself in the meticulous process where Gretchen’s careful attention to the fruit in the vineyard and daily tastings during fermentation result in high-quality, fruit-forward wines. Luna Hart’s creations are characterized by bright acidity and a delicate balance, held together by an incredible structure that speaks to the harmony between nature and craftsmanship.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Gruner Veltliner & Cabernet Franc

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Gretchen fell in love with Grüner Veltliner while working in New Zealand. She loved the clusters in the vineyard which translated to her new favorite white complete with bright acidity and gorgeous texture. It is also the perfect companion to SB and California fare.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? We love educating people about our wines and the grapes we work with. The forgotten grapes are such a fun way to share something completely new with our guests and we love surprising them.

Martha Stoumen Wines

5230 McFarlane Rd Sebastopol, CA 95472
www.marthastoumen.com

Region: Sonoma

Owner: Martha Stoumen

Winemaker: Martha Stoumen

About: Martha Stoumen Wines was founded upon the desire to recapture a farming and winemaking culture that has all but faded away: a winemaking culture of patience. Our wines are made from unexpected varietals and offer new takes on California classics. Of the nearly two dozen wines we make every year, blends and flavors change but our desire to share the simple pleasures of natural wine remains the same.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Nero d’Avola

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? My first experience with wine was actually with forgotten grapes. I went to work on a farm in Italy, just outside of Siena, when I graduated college. They assigned me as a intern in the vineyard and olive orchard. There was an old vine block of mixed whites and reds that I loved—all quite literally forgotten—none of the locals even knew what they were, but they made delicious wine.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? I don’t just love forgotten grapes—I love forgotten apple varieties, heritage breed animals, heirloom vegetables, and forgotten crafts—in a modern world where shelf life, yield, and the lowest price at all costs reign supreme, we miss out on so many flavors, nutrients, and experiences.

Omega Road Winery

2135 S Vasco Rd, Unit C, Livermore, CA 94550
www.omegaroadwinery.com

Region: Livermore Valley

Owners: Alexandra Henkelman, Ken Henkelman, Nicky Henkelman

Winemakers: Alexandra Henkelman + Ken Henkelman

About: Omega Road Winery is more than just a place to enjoy great wine. Our passion is crafting beautiful wines, and our heart and soul go into each bottle we produce. We believe in the magic of wine to spark connection, build friendships, and bring people together.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Torrontés and Counoise

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Our first foray into Torrontés was a bit of a harvest gamble… We took a chance on trying a new varietal that, not only had we not tried before, but had never even heard of. With only a week’s notice to when the grapes would be harvested, we bought as many bottles of Torrontés as we could find (in the name of research, of course) and started reading up on the grape. With a lot of excitement and only a hint of trepidation, we jumped in a week later and brought in the grapes. That was in 2019, and we haven’t looked back since!

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? There’s something truly momentous about watching someone taste a wine that’s completely unfamiliar to them. It’s a moment of discovery… a moment of unbridled fascination… a moment of curiosity. That introduction to something new opens a whole new world – not just of wine, but of places and of people. For me (and our team at Omega Road), the beauty of Forgotten Grapes is that they allow our community to expand their palates while expanding their minds. Besides, who doesn’t love getting to be the first to tell their friends about the best new wine they’ve never tried?