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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.

Doctor’s Orders Natural Wine Company

801 E Main St, Santa Paula, CA 93060
https://drsorderswine.com/

Region: Santa Barbara County

Owner: Dom O’Reilly and Anna O’Reilly

Winemaker: Dom O’Reilly

About: A family-owned-and-operated winery situated in the beautiful Upper Ojai Valley, dedicated to producing fresh and lively wines in a serious and terroir-driven style. These are both for everyday drinkers and the most discerning of palates. Sourcing organic grapes from the Ojai Valley and the Central Coast, we take pride in crafting unmanipulated, natural wines that are sophisticated, healthy, and clean.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Grenache and Trousseau

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? When I had a Grenache blend at Zuni restaurant in San Francisco.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? Forgotten grapes are more food-friendly. They tend to complement spicy and funky dishes which is food that I particularly enjoy.

Dubost

9988 Chimney Rock Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446
https://www.dubostwine.com

Region: Adelaida District, Paso Robles Region

Owners: Kate & Curt Dubost

Winemaker: Zachary Raines

About: Small lot, handcrafted, award-winning wines, produced in a strawbale winery nestled in the hills of Adelaida.

What is your favorite forgotten grape?  Touriga Nacional

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape?  Negrette. I had no experience with it at all. Our winemaker had an opportunity to purchase some and when it came time to bottle he was going to blend it. It is often used as a blending grape because of its dark color and low tannins. I tasted it and fell in love. We did a single Negrette for many years after that. Sadly, we do not grow it and are no longer producing it.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? My experience with Negrette pushed me to think/taste beyond what I was familiar with in grape varietals. It showed me that there was a world of aromas, textures and flavors out there to be explored. Negrette become my “go to” wine for lamb and I had a special chocolate dish we paired with it in the tasting room. So versatile. AND it introduced us to Chris Kern.

Flowers & Cheese

9904 Canoga Ave, Chatsworth, CA
flowersandcheese.com

Region: Los Angeles County

Owners: Antonio & Michelle Brunetti

Winemaker: Antonio Brunetti

About: We are  a Los Angeles winery making wine with grapes grown in Los Angeles county and other places in SoCal. Native fermentation Wine/Merry/Story-Making in a warehouse.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Moscato

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Tasting a Palomino made by another winemaker/making my pet-nat Moscato from Ramona Valley.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? The possibilities in California never end!

Fuil Wines

1330 Flynn Rd., Unit E, Camarillo, CA 91344
www.fuilwines.com

Region: Camarillo, CA

Owner: Matt and Carolina Espiro Jaeger

Winemaker: Matt Espiro Jaeger

About: Boutique winery using fruit from the Santa Ynez Valley to combine New World flavors with Old World structure.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Viognier

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Not my first, but the revelatory one. I’d largely written off Viognier as flabby and overly sweet in my 20s, then I had a Viognier that was crisp, complex, and still full of fruit and flower from Demetria Estate in the Santa Ynez Valley AVA. That started me on my journey to find and enjoy cool-weather wine in general, and is why Viognier was the first wine I made in my own winery.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? They’re not forgotten! They’re usually part of popular Old World blends, but we in the USA have been so conditioned to look for varietal over place, that people don’t recognize them. As an example: I’ve had people ask me what on earth Mourvèdre is, until I ask if they’ve had a Cotes du Rhone or GSM wine. Then suddenly the light dawns.

Full Tilt Wines

3359 Fernside Blvd, Alameda, CA 94501
fulltiltwines.com

Region: Mendocino County

Owner: Craig Sutphin

Winemaker: Craig Sutphin

About: Full Tilt Wines started as an experiment to see how far The Fukuoka Philosophy of “do nothing” farming could be applied to the entire natural winemaking process. The goal: create charming and delicious wines from climate-ready Mediterranean grapes in ecologically responsible, closed-loop farm. Nothing is added or taken away in the vineyard or the winery, ever. We call it zero-zero-zero. You’ll call it horizon expanding.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Frappato

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? I was relatively young and new to wine, and I purchased a bottle of 100% Negrette from Fronton, made by two female winemakers. I had no idea what Fronton was or who they were, but my wife and I decanted the wine, immediately smelled salt air and lavender fields, and sensed the blistering summer heat. And with one sip, the horizon opened, and I knew there was more above heaven and earth than are dreamt of in all our philosophies. It was like I grew two new eyes that allowed me to see in new directions.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? They expand our ontological horizons.