2027 Wineries

Derby Wine Estates

525 Riverside Ave., Paso Robles
derbywineestates.com

Region: Paso Robles

Owners: Ray and Pam Derby

Winemaker: Sean Geoghegan

About: Derby Wine Estate is a boutique, family owned winery with three Estate vineyards across the central coast and a Tasting Room & production facility on the outskirts of downtown Paso Robles. We have a passion for good wine and good company, and strive to share both with everyone who walks through our door.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Cinsault

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? I honestly can’t remember, I have always looked for lesser known grapes and heritage vines to expand my palate.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? The world of flavors and textures that open up when you think (and drink) outside the box.

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Drava Wines

1378 E Turner Rd, Ste D, Lodi CA 95240
www.dravawines.com

Region: Lodi

Owners: Steve and William Carson

Winemaker: Steve Carson

About: Drava Wines is owned and operated by brothers Steve and William Carson. A true garagiste winery crushing around 5 tons per year, focusing on unusual varietals. We make different wines every year so the tasting list changes frequently. Small lot, hand harvested, Lodi Rules Certified Sustainable wines.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Teroldego. It’s one of the few wine grapes that consistently delivers good full-bodied wines.

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? Peloursin, planted by Richard Ripken. He took me barrel tasting at his former winery and there were several varietals he grew and made that I’d never tasted before, and I told him I’ll buy one ton of each in the future. I have made all of them since.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? Learning new flavor profiles, and the story of where the grapes came from.

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Harney Lane Vineyards

9010 E Harney Lane, Lodi, Ca 95240
harneylane.com

Region: Lodi

Owners: Kyle and Jorja Lerner

Winemaker: Kyle Lerner

About: As sixth-generation farmers, we’ve learned that high-quality, handcrafted wine requires an immense amount of heart and hard work – nothing can replicate the years we’ve sown into the land and our family’s legacy. Since 1900, with focus and fortitude, we’ve learned that excellence takes endurance, distinction takes determination, and grace takes grit.

That’s why we’ve taken matters into our own hands. We pour our heart into every step of the process – from soil to shelf – we’re committed to making the best possible beverage for our customers and the planet. Our 100% estate-grown wines are produced from sustainably farmed vineyards and meticulously made with no unnecessary additives and an unwavering commitment to quality. The result is a classic collection of naturally smooth, fruit-driven wines, perfect for enjoying in everyday life.

With over a century on Henry Ranch in the heart of Lodi Wine Country, our philosophy has been and will always be: to honestly make wine that is beautifully balanced, and consciously crafted with grace and grit.®

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Our favorite “undiscovered” grape to work with here in Lodi is Tempranillo. While it’s a world-famous varietal in Spain, it remains a true hidden gem in Lodi, and it perfectly embodies our Grace and Grit ethos.

The Grit comes from managing the Tempranillo vine’s tendency to ripen quickly, requiring extremely careful canopy management in our estate vineyards. The reward is the Grace: a deeply-colored, medium-bodied red wine with beautiful balance, bright acidity, and structured tannins.

It gives us those lovely notes of cherry, dried fig, and leather—qualities you might expect from a complex Old World wine—but delivered with the authentic, fruit-forward generosity of Lodi. It’s an elegant, everyday wine that is incredibly food-friendly and continues to surprise both us and our members every vintage. We feel it has an important future in Lodi, and we love being a part of that discovery.

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? It was about twenty years ago, and the grape was Tempranillo. What genuinely surprised us was the incredible structure and acidity. Lodi is known for big, ripe fruit, but this Tempranillo delivered that beautiful, dark cherry profile alongside a backbone—a savory, earthy complexity and tannic weight—that was unexpected. It had the Grit of a classic Spanish wine but the expressive fruit of our Lodi soil.

That moment completely changed our perspective. It proved that Lodi could not only produce world-class Zinfandel, but that our vineyard’s specific terroir could nurture sophisticated, age-worthy, “undiscovered” varietals like Tempranillo. That single taste committed us to introducing that complexity to our guests.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? What we love most is the authenticity and the sheer joy of sharing discovery.
Undiscovered grapes, like our Tempranillo, allow us to honor the pioneering spirit of Lodi—that spirit of Grit that has defined us for generations. They challenge us as farmers and winemakers to truly showcase the potential of our century-old estate vineyards beyond Zinfandel.

For our guests, it provides that moment of Grace—the elevated experience of tasting something they may have never encountered, right here in the glass at Harney Lane. It creates an opportunity for connection and education, proving that sophisticated, complex, and beautiful wines can come from a laid-back, genuine place like Lodi. It makes the conversation more interesting and the experience more memorable.

Heleje Wine Co

5303 east Woodbridge rd, Acampo Ca 95220
Heleje.com

Region: Lodi AVA/Mokolumne River Sub AVA

Owners: Jacob and Shauna DesVoignes and Frank Hartwick

Winemaker: Jacob Des Voignes

About: Heleje Wine Co is a small-batch, boutique winery rooted in the rich soils of Lodi, California. Guided by the heart of a farmer and the mind of a trained chef, each varietal and every vine on our family farms is hand-selected for its harmony with the land, climate, and growing conditions.

We believe exceptional wine begins with exceptional ingredients. That’s why our farming practices start with a simple question: How can we step back and let the vine do its best? By nurturing the vineyard with intention and respect, we bring wines to the table that are as intriguing as they are balanced—celebrating community, family, and the pure pleasure of the drink.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Picpoul Blanc, because It thrives in our area, producing big bunches of crunchy fruit. It has amazing flavor and great acidity.

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? One undiscovered grape experience that comes to mind was tasting an unsulfured Fiano from Bryan Harrington. It was complex, refreshing, and lively on the palette. That experience has led to a love of Italian white varieties.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? What I love most about undiscovered grapes is the excitement of trying something new. There are many undiscovered wines that offer a completely different sensory experience when tasted for the first time.

Hitching Post Wines

420 E HWY 246 Lompoc CA 93427
hpwines.com

Region: Santa Barbara County

Owners: Frank Ostini & Gray Hartley

Winemakers: Frank Ostini and Weston Hartley

About: Led by Frank Ostini (owner of the Hitching Post 2 Restaurant) and Gray Hartley, Hitching Post Wines has passed its 40th vintage in its ongoing quest to create the finest wines possible of Santa Barbara County. The emphasis is to make intriguing, age-worthy Pinot Noirs featuring Santa Barbara County’s two iconic appellations, the Santa Maria Valley and the Sta. Rita Hills. However, other lesser-known varieties such as Chenin Blanc and Valdeguie have also caught their attention. With Frank Ostini as Chef Winemaker since its inception, these are food-friendly, handcrafted wines of balance and finesse that express the essence of the great vineyards of the Santa Barbara region. Moving forward, the next generation of Hartleys – Emily (DTC Manager) and Weston (Winemaker) – have joined the team and are doing much of the heavy lifting at Hitching Post Wines.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Valdiguie – It’s Racy. Defined as: (of a wine, flavor, etc.) having a characteristic quality to a high degree.

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? Valdiguie – It was so fresh and lively, and once in the barrel changed every month, from tart and tangy, then softening as the months passed to being this fresh, racy fruit that continues to get better and better and better.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? Great heritage varietals that are lesser known have so much potential when taken seriously and given respect. There is greater freedom to explore old and new techniques and styles.

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Ironstone Vineyards and Flora Abielle

1894 Six Mile Rd., Murphys, CA
ironstonevineyards.com

Region: Lodi

Owners: Kautz Family

Winemaker: Steve Miller

About: At Ironstone Vineyards, our family’s roots in California agriculture span three generations, beginning with the planting of our first Chardonnay vines in 1968 and culminating in the founding of our estate winery in 1988 in Calaveras County near Murphys. Over the years, we have proudly championed distinctive varietals such as Cabernet Franc and Symphony, earning national recognition and numerous awards as leaders in producing wines that express the character and quality of our vineyards.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? My first choice is the uniqueness of the Symphony grape varietal. The intensely aromatic character of the rare Symphony grape, which is a crossing of Muscat of Alexandria and Grenache Gris, delivers an explosive floral, peach, apricot, and tropical fruit aromas.

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? Your first time drinking Obsession Symphony blows you away because the aromatics leap out of the glass with intense orange blossom, ripe peach, apricot, honey, and tropical fruit before you even take a sip.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? The natural aromatics and slight touch of sweetness of the Symphony grape make it exceptional with spicy and savory dishes. The hint of sweetness helps cool the heat from foods like Thai curry, Mexican cuisine, or spicy barbecue, while its bright acidity keeps it fresh alongside savory flavors such as roasted chicken, pork, charcuterie, or rich cheeses.

JMC Cellars

6800 Greenville Road, Livermore CA 94550
jmccellars.wine

Region: Livermore Valley

Owner/Winemaker: Jessica Carroll

About: JMC Cellars is a small winery owned and operated by women who are all geeks about wine. This small ragtag group is lead by a retired civil engineer who fell in love with wine and never looked back. The JMC Cellars group is all about the weird and wonderful of wine. We like to try new things and are always open for a challenge, which is how we have things on our menu like Teroldego and Grignolino. We are a place where love of wine, meets love of knowledge, and love of people.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Favorite “undiscovered” grape would have to be Viognier. When Jessica was just starting to make wine when she went on a trip to France and in a tasting discovered that in certain regions in France they co-ferment Syrah (her favorite discovered grape) with Viognier, and it makes a beautiful wine. So she started to make it as a single varietal and loves it.

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? One of the first lesser-known grapes that Jessica discovered was Roussanne. It was a grape that one of the first wineries she worked at used for a single varietal and it fueled her interest in grapes from the Rhone region in France, as that is where Syrah comes from as well.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? We love learning about undiscovered grapes, they all have wonderful unique flavors and histories that are so interesting to dive into.

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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. 

Le Vigne

5115 Buena Vista Drive, Paso Robles, CA
www.levignewinery.com

Region: Paso Robles

Owner: Walter & Sylvia Filippini

Winemaker: Ben Mayo

About: At Le Vigne, our identity is built on a true marriage, both literal and metaphorical, of heritage and passion. On one side, the family’s deep farming roots in Paso Robles, where the land has been cultivated since the 1960s. Grapes were first planted in 1982, a year before Paso Robles was officially recognized as an AVA, and the winery was built shortly before the Estrella District sub-appellation was established. On the other side, Walter Filippini’s Italian culinary heritage brings a distinctly Old World perspective to our wines. Walter’s culinary background also informs our approach in the cellar: we strive to create wines with balance, structure, and refreshing acidity—wines that shine on the table and elevate the dining experience. The result is a collection of wines that have won multiple accolades including Winery of the Year USA from the London Wine Competition &two Paso Robles Winery of the Year awards.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Sangiovese. We make sparkling wine, rose’, & traditional reds with Sangiovese. It retains acidity in high heat & it’s a great food wine.

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? Assyrtiko. It was the first Greek varietal that I tried that really stood out & spoke for its place of origin. The tongue tingling acidity balanced by the minerality & lemon zest make quality versions a world class wine.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? I think every wine geek loves to find something new. It’s especially cool when it is a grape generally only native to a small region.

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Lyons Vineyard

3564 Sagunto St., Suite 302 Santa Ynez CA 93460
www.lyonsvineyard.com

Region: Santa Barbara County

Owners: Skye Lyons & Sarah Lyons

Winemakers: Ryan Carr with Skye & Sarah Lyons

About: Located in the Los Olivos District AVA, in the heart of Santa Barbara wine country, Lyons Vineyard is a small family-run vineyard founded in 2017 with a focus on Rhône varietals. After years of growing Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Viognier for some of Santa Barbara’s top winemakers, we launched our own label in 2022. We make limited-production, small-batch wines that let the fruit and the land shine through. Our signature style is balance; wines with depth and interest that still hold their freshness and acidity. We’re excited to showcase two Grenache clones side by side, showing just how different the same varietal can be. Along with two vintages of our 100% Mourvèdre that capture the influence of Mother Nature from year to year. We love how tasting these comparisons can spark curiosity, open up conversations, and remind us that wine is at its best when it’s bringing people together!

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? We LOVE Grenache! It can be incredibly elegant yet with layers of flavor. We always try to introduce Pinot Noir lovers to lighter-style Grenache because we think it’s a great gateway to new varieties; more people should discover it!

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? We have wonderful memories traveling to Tuscany with Skye’s late father (Stephen Lyons, to whom our vineyard name is a tribute) when we were much younger in our wine journey. We were hopping from one little town to the next to try the local food and wine. One of our favorites was a white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, produced from the ancient variety of the Vernaccia grape grown on the sandstone hillsides of the area. The wine was inexpensive yet expressive and full of character!

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? We love to show our friends how wonderful these grapes can be! Providing so many more options for different moods, food pairings, gatherings with friends or just a random Tuesday night. We believe part of the fun of being on a wine journey is learning and tasting! What better homework is there than that?