2026 Wineries

Nicora Winery

2945 Limestone Way, Paso Robles, CA 93446
nicorawine.com

Region: Paso Robles

Owner: Nick Elliott

Winemaker: Nick Elliott

About: Nicora winery was founded in 2009 in Paso Robles and we focus primarily on Rhone blends. We source our fruit from Bien Nacido, Edna Valley, and the westside of Paso Robles. We will be pouring our 100% Grenache called “Euphoric” and our 100% Tannat from G2 vineyard in Paso Robles.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Tannat

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? We fell in love with Tannat after being introduced to it by Tablas Creek, which was the first in America to grow it. It has an amazing color, and it’s really fun to teach Cabernet lovers about Tannat because they always love it.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? The challenge! It’s fun to ferment grapes we have never worked with before; we get to have a new challenge every year, and it allows us to make our blends more complex. It’s like cooking with a new ingredient.

Omega Road Winery

2135 S Vasco Rd, Unit C, Livermore, CA 94550
www.omegaroadwinery.com

Region: Livermore Valley

Owners: Alexandra Henkelman, Ken Henkelman, Nicky Henkelman

Winemakers: Alexandra Henkelman + Ken Henkelman

About: Omega Road Winery is more than just a place to enjoy great wine. Our passion is crafting beautiful wines, and our heart and soul go into each bottle we produce. We believe in the magic of wine to spark connection, build friendships, and bring people together.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Torrontés is a delicious and delightful undiscovered varietal – aromas of orange blossom and ginger are present right from the moment grapes are picked in the field, all the way through crush, fermentation, and into the bottle. It’s a bold wine, not by being overpowering, but by the balance of softness and structure. It’s a grape that holds nuance, but also is ready to be enjoyed by everyone.

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? Our first foray into Torrontés was a bit of a harvest gamble. We took a chance on trying a new varietal that not only had we not tried before, but had never even heard of. With only a week’s notice of when the grapes would be harvested, we bought as many bottles of Torrontés as we could find (in the name of research, of course) and started reading up on the grape. With a lot of excitement and only a hint of trepidation, we jumped in a week later and brought in the grapes. That was in 2019, and we haven’t looked back since!

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? There’s something truly momentous about watching someone taste a wine that’s completely unfamiliar to them. It’s a moment of discovery… a moment of unbridled fascination… a moment of curiosity. That introduction to something new opens a whole new world – not just of wine, but of places and of people. For me (and our team at Omega Road), the beauty of Forgotten Grapes is that it allows our community to expand their palates while expanding their minds. Besides, who doesn’t love getting to be the first to tell their friends about the best new wine they’ve ever tried?

Pali Wine Co.

1036 W. Aviation Drive. Lompoc, CA, 93436
paliwineco.com

Region: Santa Barbara County

Owner: Perr Family

Winemaker: Aaron Walker

About: From the Palisades to Santa Barbara County. What started as backyard dinners and a love of wine has grown into a family-run winery with roots across California’s Central Coast. Founded by Tim and Judy Perr in 2005, Pali Wine Co. blends tradition, curiosity, and community—from our early days in a Lompoc garage to our estate vineyard, natural wine project, and coastal tasting rooms. Today, Pali is guided by two generations of the Perr family, our longtime winemaker Aaron Walker, and a commitment to wines that reflect people, place, and purpose.

Pali Wine Co. is our flagship label, focused on small-lot wines that reflect the character of California’s Central Coast. In 2012, we planted Pali Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills—originally with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, now also home to Gamay, Syrah, Chenin Blanc, and Dornfelder. From sourcing to cellar, our wines are shaped by place, guided by sustainability, and grounded in long-standing grower relationships.

Neighborhood is the sketchbook for Pali—a space to experiment, push boundaries, and explore new ideas. Led by Nick and Carmen Perr, this label is rooted in natural winemaking and shaped by the energy of Los Angeles. Every bottle is wild-fermented, unfined, unfiltered, and made with minimal sulfur.

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

What was your first experience with an undiscovered 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 undiscovered grapes? Sharing with our guests and wine club members across our tasting rooms!

Perlegos Wine

PO Box 248 Woodbridge CA 95258
perlegoswine.com

Region: Lodi

Owners: Jeff & John Perlegos

Winemaker: Jeff & John Perlegos

About: Growing up in the central valley of California, we’ve inherited a sense of pride from our Greek parents and have continued to farm vineyards and make wine, incorporating the Mediterranean lifestyle and culture into our everyday lives. We don’t make wines that are made to have an instant and powerful impact like tasting room wines; our wines are wines of finesse and elegance, and are made to be enjoyed with friends, family, and food.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Assyrtiko – represents our Greek heritage, and makes one of the great wines of the world

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? It was Cinsault, and I could smell its wonderful aromas in the restaurant from across the room.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? The mystery of trying something new