Author: Allison Levine

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24 Sep

Posted at 20:35h in 2026 Wineries, 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=""] Idlewild [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/IdlewildWines" 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/idlewildWines" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]132 Plaza Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448 idlewildwines.com Region: Sonoma County Owners: Sam Bilbro and David Drummon Winemaker: Sam Bilbro About: Idlewild has a relatively concise aim within a broad context: to produce wines of exceptional balance and beauty. It is a journey to pursue Italy’s Piedmont in the elevated hills of Mendocino and Sonoma Counties. We aspire to find the intriguing, delicious, and haunting side of these Old World varieties that have found a new home in Northern California. What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Timorasso is a new favorite variety of mine, not only because ours is the first to be grown outside of Piedmont. It feels like a perfect intro to Italian white varieties for those who drink mostly from California. It is almost totally unknown even in the wine world, but it falls in a familiar weight class and has an incredibly fresh frame that has broad appeal. What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? When working in restaurants in college, I had a sales rep walk me through...

01 Mar

Posted at 23:12h in 2026 Wineries, Los Angeles 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=""] Ironstone Vineyards and Flora Abielle [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/IronstoneVineyards" 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/ironstonevineyards" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]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,...

09 Dec

Posted at 19:23h 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=""] INTERCOASTAL Wine Company [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/intercoastalvineyards" 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/intercoastalvineyards" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]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...

13 Mar

Posted at 04:24h in 2024 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_1710304104461{margin: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;border: 0px initial !important;}"][vc_column_text] J. Brix Wines [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www,facebook.com/jbrixwine" 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/jbrixwine" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text]298 Enterprise St., Suite D, Escondido CA 92029 www.jbrix.com Region: San Diego County Owners/Winemakers: Emily Towe & Jody Brix Towe About: Emily and Jody Brix Towe started J. Brix Wines in 2009 with three barrels in their two-car garage. Since then, as a two-person winemaking team, they have grown the winery into a small but mighty standard-bearer for the minimal-intervention California wine movement. Working out of a warehouse facility in Escondido since 2013, they make as many as 16 different wines per year. They source impeccable fruit from incredible vineyards all over the Golden State, focusing on Santa Barbara (where they learned to make wine) and San Diego (where they live). Their motto, in winemaking and life: ONLY LOVE. What is your favorite undiscovered grape? It's impossible to pick a favorite grape, but we can say our favorite *fermentation* is always the Counoise – it's like a strawberry-scented pink-and-purple-tie-dye foam party! What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? We worked with Grenache for our first vintage in 2009. What do you love...

08 Jan

Posted at 07:06h in 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=""] J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/jlohrwines" 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/jlohrwines" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]1000 Lenzen Ave. San Jose, CA 95126 jlohr.com Region: Monterey, Paso Robles, and Napa Valley Owners: Jerry Lohr, Steve Lohr, Cynthia Lohr, Lawrence Lohr Winemaker: Steve Peck, Kristen Barnhisel, Brenden Wood About: Founded in 1974, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines is a family-owned winery rooted in California’s Central Coast. Known for sustainably grown vineyards in Monterey and Paso Robles, we craft expressive wines that showcase place, innovation, and five decades of winemaking passion. We have two tasting rooms in San Jose and Paso Robles. What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Cabernet is still king—always. But when we want to have a little fun, we love working with Valdiguié. It’s bright, fresh, and wildly versatile, with juicy red fruit and energy that surprises people who’ve never tried it. It’s the kind of grape that turns a “cab drinker” into an explorer after one glass. What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? The first time we really fell for a lesser-known grape was Valdiguié. What surprised us most was how...

13 May

Posted at 23:03h 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=""] JMC Cellars [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/jmccellars" 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/jmccellars" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]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...

14 Mar

Posted at 16:47h 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=""] Kareen Wine Company [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/kareenwine.com" 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/kareenwine" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]23400 Upton Road, Plymouth, CA 95669 www.kareenwine.com Region: Sierra Foothills (Shenandoah Valley AVA) Owner: Rose, Susan, Greekor, Greg Nemet Winemaker: Greekor Nemet About: Family winery making low intervention wines from organic vineyards and farming 5 acres of our own estate grapes in the Sierra foothills. Queer woman owned of Armenian heritage. What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Areni - an Armenian indigenous grape What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? My first experience was making our 2013 Malbec in the garage. Never looked back since. What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? These grapes bring diversity to the palate, the wine scene, and the overall gastronomic experience. These grapes punch through the monotony of the Cab, Zin, Chard trifecta.[/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="3373" img_size="full" css="" qode_css_animation=""][vc_single_image image="3375" 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" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column width="1/3" css=".vc_custom_1709935356040{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_single_image image="3376" img_size="full" css="" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3" css=".vc_custom_1728854322434{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_single_image image="3377" img_size="full" css="" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3" css=".vc_custom_1728854330510{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_single_image image="3379" img_size="full" css=""...

22 Feb

Posted at 01:11h 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=""] Kinetic Cellars [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=""]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...

07 Nov

Posted at 21:13h 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=""] Kunin Wines [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-instagram" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.instagram.com/kunininwines" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]74 Aero Camino, Goleta 93117 www.Kuninwines.com Region: Santa Barbara County Owner: Magan Eng Winemaker: Jonathan St. Vincent and Magan Eng About: We're a small boutique winery with a passion for making single variety wines of beauty and distinction. We are influenced by the wines of the Rhône and captivated by the terroirs of Santa Barbara County. What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Mourvèdre What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? Pelaverga What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? A chance to remember them/learning to see them.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3" css=".vc_custom_1709930735254{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_single_image image="2312" img_size="full" css="" qode_css_animation=""][vc_single_image image="2313" 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" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column width="1/3" css=".vc_custom_1731017092115{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_single_image image="2317" img_size="full" css=".vc_custom_1731017044193{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3" css=".vc_custom_1731017087068{padding: 0px !important;}"][vc_single_image image="2314" img_size="480x640" css=".vc_custom_1731017057252{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3" css=".vc_custom_1731017080023{padding: 0px !important;}"][vc_single_image image="2318" img_size="full" css=".vc_custom_1731017072148{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}" 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="2315" img_size="480x640" css="" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2" css=".vc_custom_1709935363058{padding-right:...

09 Mar

Posted at 17:21h in 2024 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_1709930727903{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_column_text] L.A. Lepiane Wines [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/lepianewines" 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/la_lepianewines" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text]1480 Count Fleet St., Santa Barbara, CA www.lepianewines.com Region: Santa Barbara County Owner/Winemaker: Alison Thomson About: Founded in 1935 by Luigi A. Lepiane, and re-established by his great-granddaughter in 2013, L.A. Lepiane Wines focuses on small lots of unexpected Italian varieties. Alison Thomson crafts unique wines, using traditional techniques, natural fermentations and lots of time. Her wines reflect true character of the varieties translated in California's soil and sun. What is your favorite forgotten grape? Nebbiolo What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? I worked my first harvest for Ettore Germano in Barolo, Italy. What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? I love variety and a good story. Introducing consumers to less known grape varieties expands their wine drinking horizons to new regions, flavors, and aromas. Variety is the spice of life.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="1363" img_size="full" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3" css=".vc_custom_1710492078419{padding: 10px !important;}"][vc_single_image image="1361" img_size="full" 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="1367" img_size="full" 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="1365" img_size="full" 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 css=".vc_custom_1709935356040{padding-right: 0px...