2026 Wineries Los Angeles

Home > 2026 Wineries Los Angeles (Page 3)

09 Dec

Posted at 19:23h in 2026 Wineries, Los Angeles 2026, San Jose 2026

INTERCOASTAL Wine Company

13731 N Hwy 88 Lodi, CA 95240
intercoastalwine.com

Region: Lodi

Owners: Mindy Wendell & Mitch Spaletta

Winemaker: Mindy Wendell & Mitch Spaletta

About: As farmers, our passion begins in the field farming the land. We are dedicated to the production of amazing wine produced from the highest quality of hand-picked fruit and sustainably certified through Lodi Rules. Producing premium, award winning wines from Napa Valley, Lodi and Clarksburg, we are Ambassadors of California’s finest. The curves of the waterways along our vineyards inspired the design of our signature “S” logo and artistically represents our family name, Spaletta. Inspired to capture the experience and significance of each moment in time, our trade-marked slogan “Embrace Every Moment” is printed on each bottle and exemplifies our passion for life.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Pinotage – We were inspired to craft both a Rosé of Pinotage and a White Pinotage (Pinotage Bianco), which have quickly become flagship wines at our winery. Since Pinotage is rarely produced as a Rosé or White Wine in the United States, we wanted to create something truly unique—an exciting find for wine enthusiasts looking for something truly special.

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? Loved our discovery of Pinotage as a rare varietal and expanded our knowledge of unique varietals upon our visits to South Africa.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? As a winery that focuses on single vineyard, single varietal wines it is fun and exciting to discover lessen known varietals and share their unique characteristics with our community.

Intercoastal
Intercoastal
Intercoastal
Intercoastal

22 Feb

Posted at 01:11h in 2025 Wineries, 2026 Wineries, Los Angeles 2026, San Jose 2026, Wineries

Kinetic Cellars

282 W. Portland Ave. Fresno, CA 93711
kineticcellars.com

Region: Lodi

Owner: Cole Dennis

Winemaker: Cole Dennis

About: We specialize in crafting wines from unique varieties that we have come to love from our experiences with European wines. We craft wines with a European or, otherwise, Old-World mentality so that the resultant wines focus on and showcase the grapes from which they are made. We stress all of the important details that go into making a wine so that we can end up with wines of unique character that reflect the many aspects of terrior. We currently have focused on making wines from varieties that originate from Portugal and Spain.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Nebbiolo

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? Outside of childhood, my colleagues and I would taste a bunch of esoteric wines from the old world in College during my senior year. That was our goal – to find all of the off-the-wall unique tasting wines that we could find in Fresno. That was a special and impressionable time for me, and I am forever grateful for it.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? What I love about forgotten grapes is that they have some much personality to them. They are just as good if not better than all of the mainstream varieties that are on the market in the big box stores and even the grocery store shelves. You can start to truly taste the passion a winemaker has when you get to try these odd varieties because all of the “toys” that winemakers tend to use get put away and the grapes get a chance to shine in these wines.

 

22 Feb

Posted at 20:54h in 2026 Wineries, Los Angeles 2026, Wineries

Langhart-Hill Wines

480 Foreman Lane, Healdsburg, CA 95448
langharthill.com

Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma

Owner: Dennis Hill

Winemaker: Dennis Hill

About: After decades of successful professional winemaking, our owner-winemaker, Dennis Hill, has shifted his focus to producing a few esoteric wine styles and rare grape varieties. Many grapes are estate-grown in the Russian River Valley near Healdsburg. Dennis is not beholden to one specific wine style but prefers to appreciate the great diversity of all wines. One will find both classic and obscure wines and varieties within the Langhart & Hill and Rumpelstiltskin portfolio.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Dobričić is one of the darkest, most tannic grapes on the planet. My goal is to make a more approachable but complex red wine that shows character. Dobričić is the specialty of Šolta, the Croatian island in the Adriatic, from where my grandfather immigrated 100 years ago.

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? Malvasia Bianca and its siblings are a large and ancient variety(s) grown in many regions of the world and make a wide range of wines, including the sweet Malmsey and other Madeira wines. It does well in warm regions and makes profoundly aromatic wines. What surprised me was the great complexity and vibrancy it can make in more mild climates, showing citrus, honeysuckle, and minerality.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? Undiscovered grapes allow me to make something completely new and discover its qualities and characteristics. When we quit learning, life is no longer fun.

Langhart Hill
Langhart Hill
Langhart Hill
Langhart Hill
Langhart Hill
Langhart Hill

02 Sep

Posted at 23:11h in 2026 Wineries, Los Angeles 2026, San Jose 2026, Wineries

Lava Cap Winery

2221 Fruitridge Rd., Placerville, CA 95667
lavacap.com

Region: El Dorado

Owner: Charlie & Noreen Jones

Winemaker: Nolan Jones

About: Lava Cap is a third-generation family farm located in Placerville, high in the Sierra Nevada foothills at an elevation of 2700 feet. Our estate mountain-grown grapes are sourced from some of the highest vineyards in California. Our unique volcanic soils, weathered from ancient ash flows, produce wines that are intensely aromatic and luscious with deep, rich fruit erupting with flavor.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Barbera! Great acid, bright flavors, food friendly.

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? Planting and working with undiscovered grapes is part of the DNA of El Dorado winegrowers. Rather than being centered on a single “signature” variety, our region is still actively exploring its possibilities. Every time we plant a new grape, we’re asking how it will respond to our volcanic soils, our 3,000-foot elevations, and our steep slopes. It’s an ongoing search for the varieties that not only thrive here but that truly come alive in our mountain terroir.

You can experience that spirit of discovery in Lava Cap’s tasting room, and throughout the region. Instead of focusing on just one grape, guests are invited to explore wines from a wide range of varieties. It makes tasting here an adventure—you’re experiencing a kaleidoscope of expressions, from crisp Grenache Blanc to vibrant Barbera to mountain-grown Viognier. That sense of exploration and diversity is what makes El Dorado so distinctive, and it’s why planting undiscovered grapes has always been central to who we are.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? What I love most is the sense of possibility. With undiscovered or lesser-known grapes, you’re not bound by consumer expectations or rigid tradition—you get to let the vineyard and terroir tell the story. In El Dorado, our volcanic soils and high elevation create natural tension, acidity, and aromatics in wines, which means these “undiscovered” grapes often shine in ways people don’t expect. Sharing them with guests is a chance to taste something authentic, distinctive, and new. 

17 Dec

Posted at 20:17h in 2025 Wineries, 2026 Wineries, Los Angeles 2026, Wineries

Luna Hart Wines

2825 Tapadero Road, Solvang CA 93463
lunahartwines.com

Region: Santa Barbara County

Owner: Gretchen Voelcker

Winemaker: Gretchen Voelcker

About: At the heart of Luna Hart’s philosophy is a commitment to vineyards practicing sustainable, organic, or biodynamic farming throughout the enchanting landscapes of Santa Barbara County. Gretchen’s vision is to create wines that resonate with the very soul of the grapes—their origin, vintage, and variety—a true reflection of the terroir. Immerse yourself in the meticulous process where Gretchen’s careful attention to the fruit in the vineyard and daily tastings during fermentation result in high-quality, fruit-forward wines. Luna Hart’s creations are characterized by bright acidity and a delicate balance, held together by an incredible structure that speaks to the harmony between nature and craftsmanship.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Grüner Veltliner! It’s so versatile and food-friendly. It’s a really fun grape to work with and truly showcases site specificity in a gorgeous way. We craft it in both a still and sparkling style and it’s also really amazing to see it in both styles.

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? I fell in love with Grüner in the vineyard. It’s long and gangly, and the flavors in the fruit stunned me. I couldn’t wait to work with it in the winery. When I had an opportunity to work with it for Luna Hart I jumped on it. It’s become a staple for the brand and I’m so thrilled.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? We love educating people about our wines and the grapes we work with. The undiscovered grapes are such a fun way to share something completely new with our guests and we love surprising them.

19 Dec

Posted at 02:35h in 2026 Wineries, Los Angeles 2026, San Jose 2026, Wineries

Madroña

P.O. Box 454, Camino, CA 95709
www.MadronaVineyards.com

Region: El Dorado, Sierra Foothills

Owners: Maggie and Paul Bush

Winemaker: Paul Bush

About: Madroña is a family-owned and operated winery started in 1973. Located in the cooler foothills of the Sierra Nevada (El Dorado), our family pioneered high-elevation grape growing and wine production in California. With 70 acres of naturally farmed grapes (no herbicides, all organic products), sustainability is a driving force for our winery. Our wines are a reflection of the unique volcanic soils and cool climate of our vineyards, with my winemaking style being more hands-off than hands-on. After 50 years, we’ve learned that our vineyards produce structured and varietally focused wines with good natural acidity, meant to be enjoyed at table with friends and family.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? I would say Nebbiolo. Nebbiolo is so totally unlike any other variety in the world, both in the vineyard and in the winery, that it surprises me every vintage. It’s light in color, heavy in structure, bold in the palate yet very elegant in its characters. It’s an enigma in the winery that is best left alone to mature and express itself on its own. Nebbiolo is truly unique!

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? To be honest, I grew up in a family that produced grapes and made wines that were suited for our elevation (3,000 feet). I didn’t consider that some varieties are more well-known or less known. They were just Riesling and Gewurztraminer or Nebbiolo and Malbec. And since we sell most of our wines through our tasting room, each individual variety has individual consumers who love it.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? I love the surprised look on a winetaster’s face when they taste something new and exciting. It’s like a whole new world has just opened up, which then opens up an interest in trying even more unusual and exquisite varieties.

14 Feb

Posted at 03:22h in 2026 Wineries, Los Angeles 2026, Wineries

Maley Brothers

549 W. Woodbridge Rd, Lodi

Region: Lodi

Owners: Todd Maley

Winemaker: Todd Maley

About: Fifth-generation Lodi grower managing both vineyard and winemaking at Maley Brothers. We farm some of the oldest vines in the region and love sharing these premium wines with people who appreciate the story behind the bottle.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Vermentino has become a household favorite – my wife loves it as her go-to summer wine. It’s refreshing, food-friendly, and performs beautifully in our climate. Hard to beat on a warm Lodi afternoon.

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? Carignan. My great-grandfather planted our Carignan vineyard in 1936, so I literally grew up with these vines. Working with fruit from 90-year-old vines that your family planted gives you a different perspective on what “undiscovered” can mean—sometimes it’s about rediscovering what’s been here all along.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? The unique stories they carry. Every unfamiliar variety has a history: where it came from, who brought it here, why it survived when others didn’t. In our case, those stories connect directly to my family’s five generations in Lodi. That’s what makes pouring these wines meaningful.

Maley Brother
Maley Brother
Maley Brother
Maley Brother
Maley Brother
Maley Brother

13 Feb

Posted at 20:32h in 2025 Wineries, 2026 Wineries, Los Angeles 2026, Wineries

Marbeso

65 Los Padres Way. Buellton, CA
marbesowine.com

Region: Santa Barbara County

Owners: Colin & Hannah McNany

Winemaker: Colin McNany

About: Marbeso is a small boutique winery based out of Buellton producing cool-climate wines in close proximity to the ocean. Sourcing organically farmed grapes from Santa Barbara & Santa Cruz Mtns., Marbeso was founded in 2019 by husband & wife duo Colin & Hannah McNany. After 15 years of making wines in Santa Cruz Mtns, they moved down South to launch the business with the intention of making delicious, lower alcohol acid driven wines that they love to drink.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Aligote

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? Working with Pedro Ximenez out of the Cuyama Valley.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? They are just as delicious if not more than the standard varietals you commonly see around. When you expose yourself and others to these grape varietals, you are opening the minds of people who least expect it and therefore are changed for the better.

Marbeso6
Marbeso1

09 Mar

Posted at 00:06h in 2024 Wineries, 2025 Wineries, 2026 Wineries, Los Angeles 2026, San Jose 2026, Wineries

Marchelle Wines

2064 Hwy 116 N Ste 102 Sebastopol, CA 95472
Tasting Room: 34 North St, Healdsburg, CA 95447
marchellewines.com

Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County

Owners: Kevin Lee and Greg La Follette

Winemaker: Greg La Follette and Evan Damiano

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 undiscovered grape? Cinsaut, as it comes from the oldest producing Cinsaut vineyard in the world at Bechthold Vineyard in Mokelumne River AVA in Lodi, originally planted in 1886

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? Colombard, it is Marchelle’s origin story as Greg La Follette nursed these old vines back to health at Betty Ann Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. The crisp acidity and green apple flavors pair so well with raw oysters.

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

MarchelleGreg-in-cellarKevin-Lee

22 Feb

Posted at 20:44h in 2026 Wineries, Los Angeles 2026, Wineries

Markus Wine Co

PO Box 236, Victor, CA 95253
markuswine.com

Region: Lodi

Owner: Markus Niggli

Winemaker: Markus Niggli

About: We are a small boutique winery focusing on small lots – mostly old vine or ancient vine blocks – creating European style whites and reds

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Carignan is the perfect grape to work with, especially from an ancient vine block grown at the right place

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? 

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? Undiscovered Grapes offer something new to try. I love that people are showing up to discover that there is more than Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot.