2026 Wineries Los Angeles

Tablas Creek Vineyard

9339 Adelaida Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446
tablascreek.com

Region: Paso Robles

Owners: The Haas and Perrin families

Winemaker: Neil Collins

About: Tablas Creek Vineyard, in the Paso Robles Adelaida District, is a pioneer of the American Rhone movement and the first Regenerative Organic Certified™ winery in the world.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? It’s unfair to ask us this! So, let’s go with the two rarest grapes we grow. On the white side Picardan. When we planted our half-acre it increased the world’s footprint by 40%. And on the red side, Vaccarese, where when we bottled it in 2019, we think it was the first 100% Vaccarese from anywhere in the world in 50+ years.

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? My first wine tasting memory — the first time I remember tasting a wine and understanding what the adults were talking about — was Gewürztraminer. It really did taste like rose petals, which I thought was so cool.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? They offer an incredible variety of flavors and character, thrive in a variety of climates and soils, and can be remarkably valuable in blends as well as on their own.

Tansy

6450 1st St., Forestville, CA 95436
tansywines.com

Region:  Sonoma

Owners: Kitty Oestlien and Shelley Lindgren

Winemaker: Megan Glaab

About: Kitty Oestlien and Shelley Lindgren founded Tansy Wines in 2020 with friendship and camaraderie at the core, and haven’t looked back. It started with a conversation around a table at Shelley’s A16 restaurant, known for introducing southern Italian wines to diners. They talked about how well these varietals grow in California, and what an incredible adventure it would be to make these wines themselves.

As they started down the path, they also saw an opportunity to create a modern wine brand, one that is owned by women, made by women, and is synonymous with the things they hold near and dear—community, organic, and sustainable farming, and sitting around a table. They’re still building that vision, and thank you for joining them on the journey.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape?

Shelley – Ruche is a small percentage of what is in our Field Blend, but its lavender and floral aromatics are the first notion that there is something wonderful and magical happening, unique to its small production in Italy and even smaller in California.

Kitty – Too hard to choose. We love Fiano.

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape?

Shelley – Being an Italian-focused sommelier, there is a world of forgotten grapes being rediscovered and enjoyed more than ever before. With such a deep history of viticulture and agriculture, including grapes as a big part of the economy and culture, wine is preserved as a part of the local lifestyle and is important to the heritage and history of Italians. Many of the Italian grapes were planted in the late 1800s in California and are currently having a resurgence.

Kitty – Years ago, I remember that I was dining at A16 and I felt like a Chablis, so Shelley Lindgren recommended a Sicilian Carricante. Wow, DELICIOUS. This changed my perspective on white grape varietals, for the better.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? 

Shelley – Undiscovered grapes tell their story of survival and journey of where they originated and what life was like during their journey, mostly through Europe to the New World.

Kitty – I love how well they pair with the locally farmed fruits, vegetables, and meats that are available in California. Napa and parts of Sonoma have climates that mimic parts of Italy, so the pairings are perfect! I also love the history and origins of these grapes. It’s a great way to learn more about the world!

Thacher Winery and Vineyard

8355 Vineyard Dr., Paso Robles
thacherwinery.com

Region: Paso Robles

Owner/Winemaker: Sherman Thacher

About: Our mission is to grow unique, and food-friendly wines that purely express the terroirs we farm throughout the Central Coast. We strive to make elegant wines with more nuances than sheer power.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Cinsault

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? 2015 Cinsault

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? The unique expression that these forgotten grapes can produce.

Two Shepherds

7763 Bell Road, Windsor, CA 95492
twoshepherds.com

Region: Sonoma County

Owner: William Allen

Winemaker: William Allen

About: Founded in 2010, partners William crafts natural wines organically farmed, from leased vineyard row contracts. He also organically & regeneratively farms Grenache Gris and Noir on his small farm, alongside the adorable mini donkeys and goats.

Wines are made in his own facility, from unusual varietals, like Picpoul, Pinot Meunier, and more. Nicknamed “the insane master of small lots” William guides ~15-20 unique wines a year ranging from 25-400 case lots.

Wines are vinified with native yeast, small bin fermentations, neutral oak, and a small amount of SO2. Their light-handed approach, and reputation for unflawed wines has been heralded by the press, with articles in the NY Times, Washington Post, SF Chronicle, Sonoma Magazine and more.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Trousseau Gris

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? Discovering Trousseau Gris was planted across the street from my farm.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? 93% of the wine made in the North Coast of CA is from 7 varieties. Let’s embrace diversity.

Vigo Cellars

Fortress Custom Crush, 3090 Anderson Rd., Paso Robles, CA 93446
vigocellars.com

Region: Paso Robles

Owner: Dan & Kim Rodrigues

Winemaker: Jeremy Leffert

About:  Vigo Cellars is a family-owned, artisan winery dedicated predominately to Rhone-style wines.  Vigo’s first release was a single vineyard Syrah from the Avila Valley in the San Luis Obispo Coast AVA, with the portfolio later expanding to include Picpoul Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, and Grenache.
With a focus on the crafting of small lots, Vigo Cellars utilizes new world winemaking techniques as well as time honored, old-world methods to express each vineyard’s terroir, while highlighting the varietal’s characteristics.

Named “Vigo” as a tribute to the Rodrigues family heritage, the brand embodies the spirit of adventure.  With a journey that began in the Galicia region of northwest Spain, and included travels to Argentina, the Hawaiian Islands, and San Francisco, California, the Rodrigues family settled in the San Joaquin Valley in the late-1930’s, farming vineyards and almonds.  Three generations later, we are continuing this quest with Vigo Cellars – artisan crafted wines from select vineyards in the Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo Coastal and Santa Barbara County wine growing regions.

Seek adventure, follow your dreams and enjoy a fabulous glass of Vigo Cellars wine with family and friends!

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? We love our white wine portfolio (Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc), but equally so, we’ve had the opportunity to work with Grenache throughout AVA’s on the Central Coast, which is a dynamic line-up to experience in a vertical tasting to experience the different terroirs from Paso, Edna Valley, and Santa Barbara County.

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? Picpoul Blanc. I discovered it early in my wine marketing career at a winery where it was used in a white Rhone blend. I had the opportunity to taste it on its own and was excited by its flavor profile, which featured great acidity and liveliness on the palate. It’s a fun wine and perfect to have on-hand for entertaining – a real conversation starter!

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? Always great for both longtime wine enthusiasts and novices alike to explore an undiscovered grape variety – a lovely introduction to a new discovery!