2025 Wineries

Boutz Cellars

7055 Adelaida Road, Paso Robles
Boutzcellars.com

Region: Adelaida District, Paso Robles

Owner: James & Manoli Boutzoukas

Winemaker: James Boutzoukas

About: Our story is about father and son embarking on a journey to build a legacy, both of whom have a passion for the outdoors, farming and of course – fine wine!

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Vidiano

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Visiting wineries in Crete that focused on forgotten indigenous grape cultivars of Crete.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? Unique and unlike any other white grape produces wines that are rich in texture with aromatics of stone fruits and floral aromas.

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.