Author: Allison Levine

11 Mar What Are Forgotten Grapes

Posted at 16:54h in Uncategorized

Thousands of grape varieties exist around the world and more than 110 different varieties are planted in California. But of those 110+ varieties, nine varieties dominate. In fact, those nine varieties (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Grigio on the white grape side, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Syrah, and Petit Sirah among red grapes), make up 93% of the total wine grape plantings in California.

THESE ARE NOT FORGOTTEN GRAPES!

Forgotten Grapes are any of the remaining 100+ wine varieties grown in California that comprise the remaining 7% of total plantings. These are grapes with origins in France, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, South America, and right here in California. Some of these grapes were among the earliest vines planted in the state by its original settlers. These grapes are vitally important to the history of winemaking in California yet are woefully under-represented in the market today.

The Festival of Forgotten Grapes aims to change this. The Festival of Forgotten Grapes is a showcase of these lesser-known and uncommon wines, and your chance to taste the great history of California winemaking, and its future.

22 Mar Absolution Cellars

Posted at 06:56h in 2024 Wineries, 2025 Wineries, Uncategorized, Wineries

Absolution Cellars

845 Embarcadero, Suite H, Morro Bay, CA 93442
www.absolutioncellars.com

Region: Paso Robles

Owner/ Winemaker: Dirk Neumann

About: We are a small family-owned winery specializing in limited-production, handcrafted, single-vineyard wines from select vineyards all throughout the beautiful Central Coast. With over 20 different varieties and wines made each year, you’ll find something to please every palate. Each wine that we make is the best version of itself – a unique portrait of place and time, an honest expression of where and when the grapes were grown. Made for you to savor, enjoy, and share with your family and friends, as well as strangers, who may become one or both.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Cabernet Franc

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Nebbiolo at a Palmina Tasting in the Wine Ghetto of Lompoc in 2011.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? Pouring them for people and seeing their eyes light up when they are tasting something they are not used to having.

Balance-CF-Grenache-Birds---Dirk-Neumann

13 Oct Acquiesce Winery

Posted at 23:15h in 2025 Wineries, Uncategorized, Wineries

Acquiesce Winery

22353 N Tretheway Rd, Acampo, CA 95220
www.whitewinewinery.com

Region: Mokelumne River AVA, Lodi

Owner: Susan Tipton

Winemaker: Christina Lopez

About: Acquiesce Winery offers estate-grown, award-winning premium white and rosé wines lovingly created in small batches. Try our unique wines: Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc, Roussanne, Viognier, Clairette Blanche, Bourboulenc, and white blends Belle Blanc and Ingénue plus a Grenache Rosé.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Bourboulenc

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Grenache Blanc – fell in love with this amazing wine!

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? Love the uniqueness of these grapes that you can’t find in the store!

10 May AmByth Estate

Posted at 00:12h in 2024 Wineries, 2025 Wineries, Uncategorized, Wineries

AmByth Estate

510 Sequoia Lane Templeton, CA 93465
www.ambythestate.com

Region: Paso Robles, CA

Owner: Phillip Hart

Winemaker: Gelert Hart

About: We are a small family owned and operated vineyard, winery and farm in Paso Robles, CA. We believe in making authentic, terroir driven wines. Embracing biodynamic principles since 2003, our 42-acre estate, including 20 acres of vineyards, benefits from a unique microclimate and promotes a balanced ecosystem.

In winemaking, minimal intervention is key. Native yeasts, Terra Cotta clay Amphoras, and zero additives define our process. Hand harvesting, foot stomping, and adherence to Demeter and CCOF certifications showcase our dedication to transparency and purity.

AmByth Estate produces wines that tell a story—a story of sustainable farming, a love for the land, and a belief in the harmonious relationship between nature and craftsmanship.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Counoise

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? In 2010 the love affair with single varietal Counoise started with our dry farmed estate fruit. In earlier years, we blended with Grenache or in our Estate GSM which we still do and love but there is something special about a single varietal Counoise.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? The surprise and excitement of a new discovery. Usually these grapes are made to more authentic expressions which open a whole new realm of wine and wine drinking.

It’s always a joy to share wines made with lesser know varietals with our guests and friends and to be able to widen the consumers pallet and introduce them to a side of wine where they don’t know what to expect. A wine that initiates a good conversation and brings people together is what excites us the most.

01 Jan Anaya Vineyards

Posted at 02:09h in 2025 Wineries, Wineries

Anaya Vineyards

21 E. Elm Street, Lodi CA 95240
www.anayavineyards.com

Region: Lodi

Owner: Gerardo Espinosa

Winemaker: Gerardo Espinosa

About: Anaya Vineyards, established in 1944 by Victor Anaya in Clements Hills, California, thrives under the guidance of his grandson, Gerardo Espinosa. Known for crafting low intervention wines, Gerardo blends tradition with modern enology to create estate-grown wines. The first commercial release, “Vinedos Aurora,” was launched in 2007 after years of dedication. Anaya’s wines, from robust Cabernet Sauvignon to delicate skin contact Pinot Gris, exemplify elegance with minimalistic, architecturally inspired labeling. Gerardo’s commitment to quality ensures every bottle offers a premium experience. Salud!

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Nebbiolo

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Nebbiolo. I was not sure how would it grow in Lodi but I am growing it in Clements Hills.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? They are beautiful wines, fruit-forward with high acids.

20 Jan Andis Wines & Painted Fields

Posted at 22:26h in 2025 Wineries, Wineries

Andis Wines & Painted Fields

11000 Shenandoah Road, Plymouth, CA 95669
www.andiswines.com

Region: Sierra Foothills

Owner: Janis Akuna, Andy Friedlander, Lorenzo Muslia & Jenae Plasse

Winemaker: Mark Fowler, Lorenzo Muslia + Philippe Melka (as a consultant)

About: Andy and Janis, their two names, combine to create ANDIS. As husband and wife and avid wine enthusiasts, they founded Andis in 2009 to produce world-class wines that express the pure uniqueness of the Sierra Foothills’ soils while maintaining sustainability and environmental commitments. The solar-powered winery includes a spacious tasting room and an outdoor patio area with panoramic views. The Estate Vineyard, a testament to their commitment to quality, was planted in the 1970s at an elevation of 1560 ft. It spans over 20 acres and is home to a variety of grapes; Sauvignon Blanc, Barbera, Cabernet, Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and old vine Zinfandel. They also source additional fruit from some of the most esteemed vineyards in the region, ensuring the exceptional quality of our wines.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Schioppettino, Arinto, Cinsault, Semillon

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? When I moved to California from Italy, I discovered so many of them planted by mistake, or by passion.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? They embody the exploration and dynamism of the wine world!

01 Jan Angeleno Wine Company

Posted at 02:22h in 2025 Wineries, Wineries

Angeleno Wine Company

1646 N. Spring Street Unit C Los Angeles, CA 90012
angelenowine.com

Region: Los Angeles County

Owner: Jasper Dickson and Amy Luftig

Winemaker: Jasper Dickson and Amy Luftig

About: With a focus on unique varietals, Angeleno Wine Co. aims to push the boundaries of what Southern California wine growing can be. Angeleno works with small vineyards in the beautiful, remote corners of Los Angeles County such as Agua Dulce and the Antelope Valley. We only work with vineyards that farm sustainably and we source our grapes from land that is special for different reasons. Tannat, Graciano, Godello, Loureiro, Treixadura and Alicante Bouschet are some of the unique varietals that Angeleno makes into wine every year. We harvest early to preserve natural acidity in the fruit. Our wines are made using minimal intervention and are 100% vegan. We strive to make wines that are elegant, balanced and that express Los Angeles’ unique character: a growing region where the desert meets the sea.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Timorasso

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? The first time I traveled to Italy, in my 20’s I was blown away by the wines, almost all of which were grapes I had never heard of. I’ve been trying to wrap my mind around Italian varietals ever since. So aromatic, such texture and complexity… but so often a varietal you’ll never see again anywhere else. Such fun exploration.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? That there is always something new to discover; the joy of finding new complexity in things unknown (or almost unknown).

14 Feb August Briggs Winery

Posted at 23:20h in 2025 Wineries, Uncategorized, Wineries

August Briggs Winery

1307 B Lincoln Ave, Calistoga, CA
www.augustbriggswinery.com

Region: Napa Valley

Owner: Matthew Gacso

Winemaker: Matthew Gacso

About: August Briggs Winery is a collaboration between Matthew Gacso & Colette Milliman whose philosophy is simple: create delicious wines that express the true nature of the vineyards they come from. We focus on finding unique vineyard sites with ideal climates and soils for growing exquisite grapes and finding hidden ‘heritage varietals’ that were long forgotten by most other wineries. Gentle handling, minimal intervention, and strict monitoring of the wine allow their grapes to speak for themselves.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Carignane

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Having one of our growers bug us about buying Charbono as we already purchased their Zinfandel. We had no idea at the time how to make it or what it was. We decided to give it a shot on his insistence, and it has been an incredible learning experience over the last 20 or so years.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? When someone tastes something new and different for the first time and then falls head over heels and becomes a fan forever.

20 Jan Bolt To Wines

Posted at 22:18h in 2025 Wineries, Wineries

Bolt To Wines

1330 Flynn Rd Unit E, Camarillo Ca 93012
www.boltto.com

Region: Santa Barbara

Owner: Karin Langer

Winemaker: Karin Langer

About: We work alongside the best winemakers and vineyards on the Central Coast to express the best they have to offer, without the pretense or price of a famous name. We seek to collect the expertise and experience of Central Coast wines under one beautiful label.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Grenache

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? My first real encounter with Grenache was visiting Chateau St Nabor in the Rhone Valley. Seeing 50-60-year-old Grenache vines and trying those wines was transformative.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? They are unique.

24 Jan Boucher Wines & Worth-Boucher

Posted at 20:17h in 2025 Wineries, Wineries

Boucher Wines & Worth-Boucher

6485 Calle Real Ste E, Goleta, CA
worthboucherwines.com
www.boucherwines.com

Region: Santa Barbara County

Owner: Mindy Worth & Ray Boucher

Winemaker: Ray Boucher

About: Mindy and Ray produce two brands. Boucher Wines are label-driven, approachable, and easy-going. Worth-Boucher Wines are site-specific, more classic, age-worthy, collectible wines focusing on unique varieties.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Clairette

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? A Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc, a Clairette-dominant blend, was a game- changer. We were so excited to locate some when we relocated our winery from Napa Valley.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? Nothing against the noble varietals, however, the wine world has so much more to offer.