2025 Wineries

Bushong Vintage Company

565 12th St, Paso Robles, CA 93446
www.bushongvintagecompany.com

Region: Paso Robles

Owner: Jason Bushong

Winemaker: Jason Bushong

About: Bushong Vintage Company, where the passion for winemaking meets over two decades of craftsmanship. With a focus on high-fidelity wines, Jason Bushong, Winemaker, and Owner, has dedicated himself to producing exceptional varietals from the Central Coast. Specializing in a selection of crisp & aromatic whites and rich red blends. Sourcing fruit from the esteemed vineyards of Paso Robles and the Central Coast, each bottle bears a label that pays homage to the harmonies of music, reflecting the soulful essence of Bushong Vintage Company Wines.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Tannat

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? I fell in love with wine based on the diversity of grapes used in its production. It’s a never-ending learning experience, so many varieties, regions, techniques, and styles. But the basis is the amazing number of varieties of wine grapes, that’s where a wine starts its life.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? I fell in love with wine based on the diversity of grapes used in its production. It’s a never-ending learning experience, so many varieties, regions, techniques, and styles. But the basis is the amazing number of varieties of wine grapes, that’s where a wine starts its life.

Camins 2 Dreams

1520 E Chestnut Ct, Lompoc, CA. 93436
www.camins2dreams.com

Region: Santa Barbara County

Owners/Winemakers: Mireia Taribo & Tara Gomez

About: Camins 2 Dreams was founded in 2017. Our grapes are sourced from vineyards in Santa Barbara County with a focus in Sta. Rita Hills and San Benito County. Our philosophy is to make hand-crafted, terroir-driven wines that are fermented with natural yeast and use minimal intervention in the winery, with only minimum amounts of SO2 at bottling. Our wines are also all unfined and unfiltered. We believe wine is made in the vineyard and we want to showcase the typicity of each site where the grapes come from. We source fruit from vineyards that share in the same values of respect for the land and their workers and works e with organic, biodynamic and regenerative farming vineyards.

We are a team of two winemakers, Mireia Taribó and Tara Gomez, wife and wife, whose paths first crossed in 2006 through our work in the wine industry. Our friendship grew through wine and travels, which also sparked our love. Our journey of friendship, love, and wine now continues as together we found our dream winery, Camins 2 Dreams.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Grüner Veltliner

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape?

Mireia: I have been lucky to enjoy forgotten grapes since early age, being from Spain most of our local grapes would be considered “forgotten” , even though they are popular in Spain. Ex: Tempanillo, Xarello , Mencia or Garciano to name a few.

Tara: Through my travels through Europe, I felt lucky to expand my palate to many forgotten grapes. One experience in particular was in Languadoc when I tasted Carignan for the first time many years ago. I remember seeing those vines planted along the Mediterranean Sea and was so amazed by that, and the salinity that came from that was truly remarkable, not to mention the dark fruit flavors, vibrant acidity, and moderate tannins. Through that experience, Carignan is definitely one of my favorites.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? We love making and teaching the consumer about the under represented varieties that are not mainstream. There are so many forgotten grapes that deserve the same recognition as the mainstream varieties, and we love preaching about those varieties. We like to research them, learn about them, experimenting as we make the wine and then introducing them to the consumers.

Cary Q Wines

1160 Hopper Ave, Santa Rosa, CA
www.caryqwines.com

Region: Santa Rosa

Owner/Winemaker: Cary Quintana

About: Cary Q Wines was founded in 2014, and is a woman-owned/operated winery, dedicated to minimal intervention winemaking philosophies. I focus on producing single vineyard varietals, working with organic and/or sustainably farmed vineyards, and leading with philosophies that produce environmentally clean and fresh wines from classic varietals. I aim to highlight the unique microclimates and site-specific grape varietals that are oftentimes underrepresented or overlooked.

Born and raised in Miami, Florida, of Cuban heritage, I followed my passion for the fermented grape in 2013 by moving to Northern California. I am self-taught, motivated with intention, and an alumna of the UC Davis Viticulture and Enology Winemaking certification program.

In the cellar I lead with low-intervention winemaking philosophies, that include being sensorily vigilant, encouraging natural/wild fermentations, all with the intention of highlighting pure and vibrant varietal expressions. My aging vessels vary by vintage and varietal inspiration which include concrete, stainless steel, and neutral French oak puncheons.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Picpoul

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Mourvedre

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? How versatile they can be.

Cavaletti Vineyard

165 Poindexter Avenue, Suite D, Ventura, CA
www.cavalettivineyards.com

Region: Ventura County

Owner/Winemaker: Patrick Kelly

About: We are a family owned winery producing wines of personality and place since 2016.

What is your favorite forgotten grape?  Alicante Bouschet

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Getting access to Tempranillo from Los Angeles County for the first time

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? They are just fun to work with. No pretense and no preconceived notions.

CrossHatch Winery

1090 Edison St #104, Santa Ynez, CA 93460
www.crosshatchwinery.com

Region: Santa Barbara County

Owner: Michelle Vautier

Winemaker: Ryan Carr & Michelle Vautier

About: At CrossHatch Winery, we celebrate the artistry of co-fermentation, crafting small-batch wines that blend tradition, creativity, and global influences. Inspired by the intricate technique of cross-hatching, we layer flavors and textures to create wines that are both complex and approachable. For us, winemaking is about more than just the wine – it’s about sustainability, storytelling, and the connections we create along the way. CrossHatch is a place where wine, stories, and cultures ferment together – one barrel at a time.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Malbec

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Growing up in Argentina, wine was a part of everyday life- woven into every meal, every gathering, every celebration. Anyone who has been there knows that Malbec is anything but forgotten; it’s the heartbeat of our wine culture. But when I started traveling beyond Argentina, I was surprised to find that Malbec wasn’t the household name I had always assumed it to be. What felt essential and ever-present to me was, in many places, just another lesser-known varietal, often overshadowed by more familiar grapes. That realization sparked my curiosity and deepened my appreciation for the overlooked, shaping my approach to wine and inspiring me to explore, experiment, and share those discoveries through CrossHatch Winery.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? I love that forgotten grapes have a story to tell – one that’s often overlooked or waiting to be rediscovered. But what fascinates me most is how ‘forgotten’ is a matter of perspective. Traveling the world, I’ve seen how a grape that’s rare or underappreciated in one place can be the pride of another, deeply rooted in its culture and history. These varietals challenge expectations and invite curiosity, offering unexpected flavors and expressions that you don’t always find in the more well-known grapes. Working with them allows me to experiment, to bring something unique to the glass, and to honor traditions while giving them a fresh perspective. There’s something special about introducing someone to a wine they’ve never tried before – especially one that has been quietly thriving in a corner of the world they may not have explored yet – and watching them fall in love with it.

Cuatro Dias Winery

www.cuatrodiaswines.com

Region: Paso Robles,CA

Owner/Winemaker: Greg Allen

About: Greg Allen’s journey through the world of fine wines, as the visionary owner and mastermind winemaker behind Cuatro Dias Winery, is truly inspiring. His passion for winemaking, honed through prestigious programs and his pivotal role at the historical San Antonio Winery, sets the stage for a remarkable story. What’s particularly remarkable about Greg’s story is his dedication and perseverance. Balancing a demanding primary career as a Firefighter/Paramedic with his winemaking dreams is a testament to his commitment. The unique schedule he devised, with 2 intense 24-hour shifts followed by 4 days off, allowed him to birth Cuatro Dias, dedicating the maximum time he could to his craft.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Albariño

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? My first experience with Albariño. Having enjoyed the characteristics of Albariño, I was contracted by another winery to make the wine for them at a cost of reviving 50 percent of the product for payment. The actual fruit was cloned and named after the famed Alan Kinne who just recently passed. During fermentation, all the characteristics came together producing a great full-bodied wine with a great nose. There is more to life than Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay!

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? Paso Robles has great vineyards that have planted Albariño which continues to be a outstanding white varietal.

Derby Wine Estates

525 Riverside Ave., Paso Robles
www.derbywineestates.com

Region: Paso Robles

Owners: Ray and Pam Derby

Winemaker: Sean Geoghegan

About: Derby Wine Estate is a boutique, family owned winery with three Estate vineyards across the central coast and a Tasting Room & production facility on the outskirts of downtown Paso Robles. We have a passion for good wine and good company, and strive to share both with everyone who walks through our door.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Cinsault

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? I honestly can’t remember, I have always looked for lesser known grapes and heritage vines to expand my palate.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? The world of flavors and textures that open up when you think (and drink) outside the box.