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Lodi Wine

2545 West Turner Road, Lodi, CA, 95242
www.lodiwine.com

Region: Lodi, CA

About: Perfectly situated 90 miles east of San Francisco, Lodi’s Mediterranean climate and unique soils allow its growers to cultivate more than 125 winegrape varieties, cementing the historic winegrowing region as the unrivaled producer of “forgotten grapes.”

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? The forgotten grapes add a point of difference between Lodi and other American winegrowing regions and diversify the region’s portfolio of high quality wines.

Marchelle Wines

4950 Ross Rd, Sebastopol CA 95472
marchellewines.com

Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County

Owners: Kevin Lee and Greg La Follette

Winemaker: Greg La Follette

About: Marchelle employs traditional winemaking techniques combined with modern innovations to create wines that harmonize balance, finesse, and complexity. The resulting wines display a purity of fruit, precise acidity, and a seamless integration of flavors—a testament to Greg La Follette’s artistry and the exceptional vineyards from which the grapes are sourced.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Colombard

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Going to the 122 year old Betty Ann Vineyard in Russian River Valley where we source our Colombard to pick during harvest with Greg La Follette.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? It’s unique and interesting and something most people have not tried. Discovering something special and creating an exceptional wine from it.

No Love Lost Wine Co.

960 Clinton St, Napa CA 94559
www.nolovelost.wine

Region: Napa Valley

Owner/Winemaker: Jay Nunez

About: Napa Valley based natural winery focused on family owned vineyards that are systemic herbicide and pesticide free with sustainable practices.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Counoise

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? It was tasting through the wines of Sicily and The Canaray Islands.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? Chasing new experiences and preserving history.

Pali Wine Co.

1036 W. Aviation Drive. Lompoc, CA, 93436
https://paliwineco.com/

Region: Santa Barbara County

Owner: Tim Perr

Winemaker: Aaron Walker

About: Bringing the California Central Coast to your neighborhood. Founded in 2005 with the intent to produce Burgundy-inspired wines from California’s Central Coast, Pali Wine Co. now consists of three brands with distinct focuses. The original Pali brand focuses on premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sourced primarily from Pali’s own Sta. Rita Hills and Sonoma vineyards. Tower 15 Winery produces extremely small bottlings of opportunistic, single varietal wines with grapes purchased from small, family-owned vineyards in California’s Central Coast. And Neighborhood Winery specializes in interesting blends – both daring and traditional – that often push the boundaries of conventional wine flavor profiles. All wines are meticulously crafted at Pali’s Lompoc-based winery under the direction of its long-time winemaker, Aaron Walker.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? A few favorites: Cabernet Pfeffer, Dornfelder, and Orange Muscat.

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? We first experimented with Dornfelder when sourcing from our neighbors, Huber Vineyard. Our 2015 vintage was extremely dark in color with a surprisingly light, acid-driven frame. Nearly 10 years later, we planted Dornfelder on our estate property and are producing varietals under Pali Wine Co. and Neighborhood Winery, experimenting with our winemaking for this stunning grape!

On another note, we were privileged to begin sourcing from Enz Vineyard in 2022. We now source Cabernet Pfeffer, Zinfandel, Orange Muscat, and ancient-vine Mourvèdre from their property. We love the opportunity to highlight terroir in each of our wines, whether it’s skin-contact Orange Muscat or carbonic macerated Cab Pfeffer!

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? Sharing with our guests and wine club members across our tasting rooms!

PasoSecco

1244 Pine Street, Suite 101B, Paso Robles
www.pasosecco.com

Region: Paso Robles/Central Coast

Owner: Chris Kern

Winemaker: Elizabeth Kuhlemann

About: PasoSecco is the first and only Prosecco-style sparkling wine produced in Paso Robles made exclusively from Paso Robles grapes. Crafted by vintner Chris Kern and winemaker Elizabeth Kuhlemann, PasoSecco is 100% Grenache Blanc harvested in the El Pomar District on Paso Robles’s East Side that undergoes the Charmat, or secondary tank fermentation, method used by the top Prosecco producers in Italy. The Charmat method ensures bright, citrusy aromatics; crisp, refreshing, mouth-watering flavors; and a cavalcade of rich, elegant bubbles that dance across your tongue and leave you wanting more.

With our signature Mediterranean blue label and double ribbon design, PasoSecco combines Portofino chic with Palm Springs cool, while always being exclusively Paso Robles. Savor PasoSecco ice-cold with friends, loved ones, or on any regular weeknight when you need a little sparkle. Pair PasoSecco with hand-cut potato chips, oysters on the half-shell, or even fried chicken. And enjoy PasoSecco in a spritz, Kir Royale, French 75, or your favorite sparkling wine cocktail; it was built to be mixed into libations! PasoSecco is not just your

Everyday Bubbles, PasoSecco is the Best Bubbles in Paso!

What is your favorite forgotten grape?  Cinsault

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? My second favorite wine ever when I started drinking wine was a Grenache and Mourvedre heavy E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? I love how passionate those who produce them are about seeing them survive, and showcasing them to wine drinkers who are not familiar with them and watching their eyes light up and dispositions change.

Presqu’ile Winery

3591 Presquile Drive, Santa Maria, CA 93455
www.presquilewine.com

Region: Santa Barbara County

Owner: The Murphy Family

Winemaker: Dieter Cronje

About: Presqu’ile (‘press-keel’) is a family-owned winery in the Santa Maria Valley dedicated to crafting exceptional, cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah from Santa Barbara County.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Aligoté

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Trying a beautifully fresh Aligoté while visiting Burgundy, France. I was surprised to learn about the grape, in general, and even more shocked to find such a unique white wine coming out of the area.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? The opportunity to stumble upon something unique and fun while wine buying in the wild.

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.