Author: Allison Levine

Home > Articles posted by Allison Levine (Page 11)

05 Oct

Posted at 21:57h in 2026 Wineries, Los Angeles 2026

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern" z_index="" side_padding="0"][vc_column width="2/3" css=".vc_custom_1711320642741{padding-right: 10px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_column_text css=""] SITE [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/SiteWines" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-instagram" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.instagram.com/sitewineco" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]762 Toro Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 sitewineco.com Region: Central Coast Owners: Jeremy Weintraub Winemaker: Jeremy Weintraub About: I started SITE to highlight the most important determinant in a glass of component of great wine--the site. I had been making Cabernet Sauvignon almost exclusively while I was winemaker at Seavey Vineyards in Napa Valley, but found myself drinking almost anything but Cabernet when I got home. What I did enjoy were Grenache, Syrah, Roussanne, and Viognier, and I chose three of the most distinctive vineyards in California to source those grapes from. Before Napa, I had worked in Santa Barbara County, in Tuscany on a fellowship at Tignanello/Solaia estate, in Central Otago and Martinborough, NZ, and on Long Island. What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Roussanne. It has a distinctive mouthfeel that suggests weight even at low alcohol and finishes with a bitter, enchanting finish. What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? Gewurztraminer on Long Island as a 20-year-old. I had just fallen in love for the first time, and my...

14 Feb

Posted at 23:44h in 2025 Wineries, Uncategorized, Wineries

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern" z_index="" side_padding="0"][vc_column width="2/3" css=".vc_custom_1711320642741{padding-right: 10px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_column_text css=""] Slamdance Kooperatieve Wines [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-instagram" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.instagram.com/slamdancekooperatievewines" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]480 Marquita Ave Suite A, Paso Robles, CA Region: Paso Robles Owner: Daniel Callan Winemaker: Daniel Callan About: A native of Virginia, Daniel Callan started his winemaking career in the Commonwealth. After working his first harvest under the guidance of Nate Walsh in 2012, Callan began traveling abroad to seek out winemaking apprenticeships around the New World, working in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Paso Robles, and Chile. Working a furious schedule of 2 or 3 harvests a year, he would rack up 20 vintages in half as many years, learning from Chris Alheit, Pedro Parra, and Raj Parr. The Covid years brought his travels to an abrupt end and Callan, settling in Paso Robles, California, would turn his attention to his own project. Inspired by the “California Burgundy” wines of Pre-Prohibition (a tradition continued up through the 1970s by legendary producers like BV), Callan sought to resurrect a forgotten style that hearkens back to California’s earliest winemaking traditions. The wine is built around the old workhorse grapes of premodern California, often misidentified and sometimes now existing...

07 Feb

Posted at 19:25h in 2025 Wineries, 2026 Wineries, Los Angeles 2026, San Jose 2026, Wineries

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern" z_index="" side_padding="0"][vc_column width="2/3" css=".vc_custom_1711320642741{padding-right: 10px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_column_text css=""] Starfield Vineyards [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/StarfieldVineyards" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-instagram" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.instagram.com/StarfieldVineyards" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]2750 Jacquier Road, Placerville, CA 95667 starfieldvineyards.com Region: El Dorado Owner: Tom Sinton & Rob Sinton Winemaker: Rob Sinton About: Starfield Vineyards is an estate vineyard and winery in El Dorado, halfway between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe -- on the Highway 50 corridor near Placerville. Starfield Vineyards is known for its high elevation mountain vineyards in El Dorado and the fresh wines from rare varieties that exhibit the characteristic Sierra Spice from growing grapes in the pine forests of California. What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Cinsaut is my personal favorite. It was hard to find varietal examples of it before we planted it and it looks almost like a table grape, but it produces a light red wine with vibrant strawberry notes and a hint of leafy-bramble. It’s great straight from the fridge on hot California summer days. What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? I always felt like I gravitated toward lesser known grapes so it’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment. I remember going through Cabernet Franc and...

24 Jan

Posted at 06:59h in 2025 Wineries, 2026 Wineries, Los Angeles 2026, San Jose 2026, Wineries

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern" z_index="" side_padding="0"][vc_column width="2/3" css=".vc_custom_1711320642741{padding-right: 10px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_column_text css=""] The Steven Kent Winery [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/skwinery" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-instagram" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.instagram.com/skwinery" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]2245 S. Vasco Rd, Ste C, Livermore, CA 94550 stevenkent.com Region: Livermore Valley Owner: Steven and Beth Mirassou Winemaker: Steven, Beth, and Aidan Mirassou About: The Steven Kent Winery in the Livermore Valley is the preeminent producer of Cab Franc in the US. What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Cabernet Franc, because it is the most alluring, beguiling, delicious, sexy, food-friendly grape...

09 Sep

Posted at 20:52h in 2026 Wineries, Los Angeles 2026, San Jose 2026

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern" z_index="" side_padding="0"][vc_column width="2/3" css=".vc_custom_1711320642741{padding-right: 10px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_column_text css=""] Stolpman Vineyards [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/StolpmanVineyards" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-instagram" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.instagram.com/stolpmanvineyards" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]2434 Alamo Pintado Ave Los Olivos CA 93441 stolpmanvineyards.com Region: Santa Barbara County Owners: Stolpman Family Winemaker: Kyle Knapp About: Established in 1990 in Ballard Canyon AVA, Santa Barbara County, Stolpman now boasts 15 different grape varieties and is certified both CCOF Organic and Demeter Biodynamic. Stolpman prides itself on taking care of its land AND its people. La Cuadrilla, the vineyard crew, works year-round at Stolpman and receives hourly and year-end profit-sharing bonuses based on the sales of their namesake red blend. The beautiful rolling Limestone hills are meticulously farmed by the dedicated, passionate crew. What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Trousseau What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? Traveling through Italy, we ordered a bottle of Timorasso at a restaurant in Piemonte, and we were blown away by both the richness and delicate balance. We sought bottles out from the producer, now retired, Walter Massa, for the rest of the trip! What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? This world of wine is so vast, and there is...

06 Mar

Posted at 01:33h in 2025 Wineries, 2026 Wineries, Los Angeles 2026, San Jose 2026, Wineries

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern" z_index="" side_padding="0"][vc_column width="2/3" css=".vc_custom_1711320642741{padding-right: 10px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_column_text css=""] Tablas Creek Vineyard [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/TablasCreek" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-instagram" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.instagram.com/tablascreek" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]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...

09 Mar

Posted at 00:35h in 2024 Wineries, 2025 Wineries, 2026 Wineries, Los Angeles 2026, San Jose 2026, Wineries

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern" z_index="" side_padding="0"][vc_column width="2/3" css=".vc_custom_1709930727903{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_column_text] Tansy [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-instagram" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.instagram.com/tansywines" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]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...

20 Jan

Posted at 22:30h in Wineries

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern" z_index="" side_padding="0"][vc_column width="2/3" css=".vc_custom_1711320642741{padding-right: 10px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_column_text css=""] Tatomer [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067342248826" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-instagram" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.instagram.com/Tatomerwines" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]1299 West Laurel Avenue, Lompoc CA 93436 www.tatomerwines.com Region: Santa Barbara County Owner: Graham Tatomer Winemaker: Graham Tatomer About: Tatomer is a small artisanal winery based in Santa Barbara, California. The focus is on the production of Dry Rieslings, Grüner Veltliners, and Pinot Noirs. Graham Tatomer started at Santa Barbara Winery at the age of 16 and quickly developed a love for the industry. His favorite grape was Riesling and this led to a move to Austria to learn from the multi-generational masters. As no big surprise, he fell in love with Grüner Veltliner while working there. He returned to California and founded Tatomer in 2008 on a shoestring budget. Now these wines are sold in Michelin-starred restaurants across the globe. What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Riesling What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? My parents loved German Rieslings and would have me take a sip of anything really, really special as a child. What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? They embody the exploration and dynamism of the wine world![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column...

01 Jan

Posted at 01:56h in 2025 Wineries, 2026 Wineries, San Jose 2026, Wineries

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern" z_index="" side_padding="0"][vc_column width="2/3" css=".vc_custom_1711320642741{padding-right: 10px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_column_text css=""] Terah Wine Co. [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/terahwinecompany" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-instagram" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.instagram.com/terahwinecompany" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]425 S 3rd Street, Richmond, CA www.terahwineco.com Region: Bay Area Owner: Terah Bajjalieh Winemaker: Terah Bajjalieh About: Small producer, focused on working with grower partners who farm organically and biodynamically. Making wine from Mediterranean varietals or varietals off the beaten path. Looking to produce food-friendly wines showing balance and site. What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Barbera. I love the flavor and acid profile of the grape What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape?  What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? Acidity and the huge flavors![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3" css=".vc_custom_1709930735254{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_single_image image="2524" img_size="500x500" css="" qode_css_animation=""][vc_single_image image="2523" img_size="500x500" css="" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column width="1/2" css=".vc_custom_1709935356040{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_single_image image="2526" img_size="full" css="" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2" css=".vc_custom_1709935363058{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_single_image image="2525" img_size="full" css="" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][/vc_row]...

07 Nov

Posted at 21:42h in 2025 Wineries, 2026 Wineries, San Jose 2026, Wineries

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern" z_index="" side_padding="0"][vc_column width="2/3" css=".vc_custom_1711320642741{padding-right: 10px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_column_text css=""] tercero wines [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/tercerowinesfans" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-instagram" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.instagram.com/tercerowines" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]2445 Alamo Pintado Avenue Suite 105, Los Olivos, CA. 93441 www.tercerowines.com Region: Santa Barbara County Owner and Winemaker: Larry Schaffer About: I concentrate on making small lot, hand crafted wines using fruit from leading Santa Barbara County vineyards. My main focus are Rhone varieties - I'll be President of the Board of Directors of the Rhone Rangers in 2025 - but also work with other interesting varieties. What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Counoise What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? I can still remember the first time I smelled a Gewurztraminer - those hauntingly beautiful aromatics were like nothing I had ever experienced in a wine before - and to this day, the aromatics of this variety remain so special to me. What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? I love how they provide distinctive flavors and aromas that expand ones horizons as to what wine can be.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3" css=".vc_custom_1709930735254{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_single_image image="2300" img_size="full" css="" qode_css_animation=""][vc_single_image image="2301" img_size="full" css="" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left"...