Author: Allison Levine

Robert Hall Winery

3443 Mill Road Paso Robles, CA 93446
www.roberthallwinery.com

Region: Paso Robles AVA Geneseo District

Owner: Jeff O’Neill

Winemaker: Don Brady and Amanda Gorter

About: Robert Hall wines are a tribute to hard work and pride in craft. Our award-winning wines represent the pillar of the vibrant and premier Paso Robles winemaking region, and express the spirit of the valley. Our estate-grown varieties have big, bold characteristics and our wines are crafted with rich, complex flavors.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Vermentino

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? I was visiting Italy when I first tasted Vermentino. Really lovely memories with a memorable wine.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? The romance of the past.

San Rucci

6201 Schirra Ct, Suite 7, Bakersfield, CA 93313
www.sanrucci.com

Region: California’s Central Valley

Owner: The Merz Family

Winemaker: Bill and Tony Merz

About: San Rucci is an urban winery based in the California’s Central Valley. The name San Rucci is the combination of our two family names – the San Filippo’s and the Becherucci’s. Because we do not own any vineyards, we are able to work with grape growers throughout the state to craft a variety of wines including some Italian varieties that are not often found throughout the new world. Salute!

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Falanghina

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? While working for a previous employer, I had the opportunity to taste wines made from an “experimental vineyard” planted with various forgotten grapes. It was rather thought provoking to taste these wines.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? I think the thing I like the most about the forgotten grapes is the curiosity of what could be. There are so many forgotten grapes that are unique on their own but then add terroir, it’s fascinating. There will always be a place for grapes like Cabernet, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, but there are so many other varieties that make interesting and delicious wines. It is fun to introduce the forgotten varieties to wine drinkers.

Sans Liege Wines

2995 Limestone Way, Paso Robles, CA 93446
www.sansliege.com

Region: Paso Robles

Owner/Winemaker: Curt Schalchlin

About: Sans Liege (sahn leej) or “without allegiance” aptly describes owner/winemaker Curt Schalchlin’s tenacity to pursue winemaking on the central coast unhindered by the trappings of any particular style.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Grenache

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? My inspiration wine was 1998 Clos du Pape. The first wine I made was 2003 Alta Mesa Vineyard, Santa Barbara County, Grenache.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? I appreciate the opportunity to share lesser known varietals with people and see and hear their reactions when they taste something for the first time.

Shadow Run Vineyards & Winery

2720 La Panza Rd., Paso Robles, CA
www.shadowrunvineyards.com

Region: Creston District, Paso Robles

Owner: Les and Susan Evans

Winemaker: Aaron Hunt

About: Shadow Run is a 150-acre ranch and vineyard offering varietals of Malbec, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache Noir, Grenache Blanc and Viognier. Much of the ranch is home to wildlife and remains in its natural state, conserving the rugged beauty of this part of California’s Central Coast.

Drive into the countryside, escape the crowds and enjoy wines from our vineyard, planted and farmed by our family. Our winemaker is always at hand to talk about the vines or his favorite wines. Our award-winning wines are hand harvested and produced from estate grown grapes. Our white wines are delicate, fruit forward and our red wines are rich, intriguing. The Shadow Run tasting room overlooks the Huer Huero River valley and is surrounded by vineyards and pristine oak-covered hillsides. Enjoy our wines under the oaks or in the tasting room. Discover this beautiful rural setting located only 20 minutes from downtown Paso Robles. The Shadow Run experience: informal, memorable.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Cinsaut

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Tasting with my wine collector friends at a wine storage facility in Irvine, Wine Cellar Club America.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? The diversity and uniqueness of the flavors.

Tansy

6450 1st St., Forestville, CA 95436
tansywines.com

Region:  Sonoma

Owner: Kitty Oestlien and Shelley Lindgren

Winemaker: Megan Glaab

About: Kitty Oestlien and Shelley Lindgren founded Tansy Wines in 2020 with friendship and camaraderie at the core, and haven’t looked back. It started with a conversation around a table at Shelley’s A16 restaurant, known for introducing southern Italian wines to diners. They talked about how well these varietals grow in California, and what an incredible adventure it would be to make these wines themselves.

As they started down the path, they also saw an opportunity to create a modern wine brand, one that is owned by women, made by women, and is synonymous with the things they hold near and dear—community, organic, and sustainable farming, and sitting around a table. They’re still building that vision, and thank you for joining them on the journey.

What is your favorite forgotten grape?

Shelley – Ruche is small percentage of what is in our Field Blend but, its lavender and floral aromatics are the first notion that there is something wonderful and magical happening unique to its small production in Italy and even smaller in California.

Kitty – Too hard to choose. We love Fiano.

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape?

Shelley – Being an Italian-focused sommelier, there is a world of forgotten grapes being rediscovered and enjoyed more than ever before. With such a deep history of viticulture and agriculture – including grapes as a big part of economy and culture, wine is preserved as a part of local lifestyle and important to the heritage and history of Italians. Many of the Italian grapes were planted in the late 1800’s in California and currently having a resurgence.

Kitty – Years ago I remember that I was dining at A16 and I felt like a Chablis, so Shelley Lindgren recommended a Sicilian Carricante. Wow, DELICIOUS. This changed my perspective on white grape varietals, for the better.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? 

Shelley – Forgotten grapes tell their story of survival and journey of where they originated and what life was like during its journey mostly through Europe to the New World.

Kitty – I love how well well they pair with the locally farmed fruits, vegetables, and meats that are available in California. Napa and parts of Somona have climates that mimics parts of Italy so the pairings are a perfect! I also love to the history and origins of these grapes. It’s a great way to learn more about the world!

Thacher Winery and Vineyard

8355 Vineyard Dr., Paso Robles
thacherwinery.com

Region: Paso Robles

Owner/Winemaker: Sherman Thacher

About: Our mission is to grow unique, and food-friendly wines that purely express the terroirs we farm throughout the Central Coast. We strive to make elegant wines with more nuances than sheer power.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Cinsault

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? 2015 Cinsault

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? The unique expression that these forgotten grapes can produce.

Trail Marker Wine Co.

1160 Hopper Ave, Santa Rosa CA 95403
www.trailmarkerwineco.com

Region:  Sonoma County

Owners/Winemakers: Drew Huffine and Emily Virgil

About: We’re purists at Trail Marker and Kid Sister. We source fruit from small, yet responsibly farmed and passionately cared for vineyards, anywhere from Mendocino to Santa Cruz. Our traditional winemaking style allows us to make wines that are high acid, low alcohol — well balanced expressions of these uncommon places. They’re wines we like to drink and share, and we think you will too.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Trousseau

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Jura Trousseau

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? That people just taste from a place of pleasure rather than what they THINK the wine should taste like (as is the case with more typical varietals).

Two Shepherds

7763 Bell Road, Windsor, CA 95492
twoshepherds.com

Region: Sonoma County

Owner: William Allen and Karen Daenen

Winemaker: William Allen

About: Founded in 2010, partners William and Karen craft natural wines organically farmed, from leased vineyard row contracts. They also organically & regeneratively farm Grenache Gris and Noir on their small farm, alongside their adorable mini donkeys and goats.

Wines are made in their own facility, from unusual varietals, like Picpoul, Pinot Meunier, and more. Nicknamed “the insane master of small lots” William guides ~15-20 unique wines a year ranging from 25-400 case lots.

Wines are vinified with native yeast, small bin fermentations, neutral oak, and a small amount of SO2. Their light-handed approach, and reputation for unflawed wines has been heralded by the press, with articles in the NY Times, Washington Post, SF Chronicle, Sonoma Magazine and more.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Trousseau Gris

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Discovering Trousseau Gris was planted across the street from my farm.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? 93% of the wine made in the North Coast of CA is from 7 varieties. Let’s embrace diversity.

The Blending Lab

5151 w. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90016
https://www.thewineblendinglab.com

Region: Los Angeles and Paso Robles

Owner: Michael Keller

About: The Blending Lab is an urban winery with locations in Paso Robles and Los Angeles.

The owners believe that wine is a very personal experience and that drinking wine should be FUN for everyone regardless of their knowledge and preferences. In addition to more traditional tasting flights, The Blending Lab offers a unique opportunity for customers to learn more about making & blending wine in our regularly scheduled wine blending classes. Become a winemaker for the day and make your own wine blend at The Blending Lab Los Angeles or Paso Robles.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Current grape crush Touriga Nacional & Cinsault

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? It was Pinotage! I was 18 and in school (college) in Switzerland exploring a local wine shop and found an African wine.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? Discussing them in wine blending classes and opening up their minds as wine consumers to new experiences!