Wineries

Lindquist Family Wines

4665 Santa Maria Mesa Rd, Santa Maria, CA 93454
verdadandlindquistfamilywines.com

Region: Santa Maria Valley

Owners/Winemakers: Bob Lindquist and Louisa Sawyer Lindquist

About: We make a number of forgotten grapes from cool climate vineyards on the Central Coast.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Marsanne

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? Probably my first experience would have been when I was in college with Wente Grey Riesling, which is Trousseau Gris.  As a winemaker, the first forgotten grape that I made was a 1987 Marsanne, which I still make today.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? There is so much diversity in flavors, aromas and character…and they can often be better values.

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.