Author: Allison Levine

Home > Articles posted by Allison Levine (Page 6)

21 Nov

Posted at 02:18h in 2025 Wineries, 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=""] Friendly Noise [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-instagram" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.instagram.com/friendlynoise" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]111 Poindexter Ave, Ste D, Moorpark, CA 93021 www.friendlynoise.com Region: Ventura County Owners: Peter Clausen and Andrew Sylvia Winemakers: Peter Clausen and Andrew Sylvia About: We make casual, party-pleasing low interventions wines from underappreciated grapes and growing regions. What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Picpoul What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? Drinking delicious, dry, bubbly Muscadine wines in North Carolina and absolutely loving them! What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? There is more freedom to create and more freedom to enjoy them than there are with more mainstream grapes.[/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="2455" img_size="full" css="" qode_css_animation=""][vc_single_image image="2454" img_size="1066x800" 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" css=".vc_custom_1732155374035{margin: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;border: 0px initial !important;}" z_index=""][vc_column width="1/3" css=".vc_custom_1732155385189{margin: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;border: 0px initial !important;}"][vc_single_image image="2449" img_size="full" css="" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3" css=".vc_custom_1732155407180{margin: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;border: 0px initial !important;}"][vc_single_image image="2450" img_size="full" css="" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3" css=".vc_custom_1732155416324{margin: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;border: 0px initial !important;}"][vc_single_image image="2456" img_size="full" css=".vc_custom_1732155435436{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][/vc_row]...

01 May

Posted at 06:06h in 2024 Wineries, 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] Fuil Wines [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/fuilwines" 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/fuilwines" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]1330 Flynn Rd., Unit E, Camarillo, CA 91344 www.fuilwines.com Region: Camarillo, CA Owner: Matt and Carolina Espiro Jaeger Winemaker: Matt Espiro Jaeger About: Boutique winery using fruit from the Santa Ynez Valley to combine New World flavors with Old World structure. What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Viognier What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? Not my first, but the revelatory one. I'd largely written off Viognier as flabby and overly sweet in my 20s, then I had a Viognier that was crisp, complex, and still full of fruit and flower from Demetria Estate in the Santa Ynez Valley AVA. That started me on my journey to find and enjoy cool-weather wine in general, and is why Viognier was the first wine I made in my own winery. What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? They're not forgotten! They're usually part of popular Old World blends, but we in the USA have been so conditioned to look for varietal over place, that people don't recognize them. As an example: I've had people ask me...

28 Feb

Posted at 23:12h in 2025 Wineries, 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=""] Full Tilt Wines [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-instagram" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.instagram.com/fulltiltwine" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]3359 Fernside Blvd, Alameda, CA 94501 fulltiltwines.com Region: Mendocino County Owner: Craig Sutphin Winemaker: Craig Sutphin About: Full Tilt Wines started as an experiment to see how far The Fukuoka Philosophy of “do nothing” farming could be applied to the entire natural winemaking process. The goal: create charming and delicious wines from climate-ready Mediterranean grapes in ecologically responsible, closed-loop farm. Nothing is added or taken away in the vineyard or the winery, ever. We call it zero-zero-zero. You’ll call it horizon expanding. What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Frappato What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? I was relatively young and new to wine, and I purchased a bottle of 100% Negrette from Fronton, made by two female winemakers. I had no idea what Fronton was or who they were, but my wife and I decanted the wine, immediately smelled salt air and lavender fields, and sensed the blistering summer heat. And with one sip, the horizon opened, and I knew there was more above heaven and earth than are dreamt of in all our philosophies. It was...

08 Mar

Posted at 23:10h 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] Giornata [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Giornata-Wines/537610486328343" 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/giornatawines" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]470 Marquita Ave #A, Paso Robles CA 93446 giornatawines.com Region: Paso Robles Owners/Winemakers: Brian and Stephy Terrizzi About: We make authentic, complex and balanced wines in Paso Robles, CA featuring Italian grape varieties. What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Fiano. It almost disappeared until someone made it a focus. It is a success story and also delicious! What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? I wasn't sure what to make of Nebbiolo the first time I tried it. I did not understand it, but I knew I wanted a second glass. What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? Learning their history[/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="849" 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="1/4" css=".vc_custom_1709935356040{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_single_image image="889" img_size="full" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4" css=".vc_custom_1709935363058{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_single_image image="887" img_size="full" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4" css=".vc_custom_1709935371833{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_single_image image="886" img_size="full" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4" css=".vc_custom_1709935378038{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_single_image image="885" img_size="full" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][/vc_row]...

08 Mar

Posted at 23:24h in 2024 Wineries, 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] Guthrie Family Wines [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/guthriefamilywines" 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/GuthrieFamilyWines" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]574 Este Madera Drive, Sonoma, CA 95476 www.guthriefamilywines.com Region: Sonoma, California Owner: Blair & Caroline Guthrie Winemaker: Blair Guthrie About: Crafting low-intervention wines from responsibly farmed grapes. What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Grenache Blanc What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? In Australia, I came across Arneis and was lucky enough to get my hands on it and make it! What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? It's like walking the forgotten path. I love their history but also their originality in today's wine world.[/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="866" 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_1709947962016{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_single_image image="865" img_size="full" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2" css=".vc_custom_1709947968535{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}"][vc_single_image image="864" img_size="full" qode_css_animation=""][vc_single_image image="867" img_size="full" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][/vc_row]...

03 Oct

Posted at 23:08h in 2027 Wineries, Los Angeles 2027, San Jose 2027, 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] Half Full 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/halffullwine" 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/halffullwine" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text]3000-F Danville Blvd., #142, Alamo, CA 94507 halffullwine.com Region: Northern California Owner: Family Owned - Tim Harris & Antonia Rozakis, Roger & Jennifer Billeci, Demetrius & Tina Palavos Winemaker: Tim Harris & Edward Cholakian About: Half Full Wine Co. started in a garage, where we spent more than a decade learning by doing. We made it official in 2023, but kept the same curiosity. Today, we roam Northern California looking for vineyards, varieties, and ideas worth chasing. Our wines are small-lot, single-vineyard and tied to one vintage. No formulas. No reruns. One vineyard. One vintage. One chance to get it right. That model gives us permission to keep exploring. Albariño and Chenin Blanc from Clarksburg; Grenache from Amador; Cabernet Franc from the Sierra Foothills; and now experiments with Chenin Blanc Pét-Nat and partial-carbonic Valdiguié. We don’t want to make the same wines forever. We want to keep discovering what California can do. What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Grenache. We sometimes think of it as a more rustic cousin to Pinot Noir....

13 Dec

Posted at 20:47h in 2026 Wineries, 2027 Wineries, San Jose 2026, San Jose 2027, 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=""] Harney Lane Vineyards [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/harneylane" 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/harneylane" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]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...

07 Feb

Posted at 19:09h in 2025 Wineries, 2026 Wineries, 2027 Wineries, Los Angeles 2026, Los Angeles 2027, 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=""] Hitching Post Wines [/vc_column_text][social_icons type="circle_social" icon="fa-facebook" use_custom_size="no" size="fa-lg" link="https://www.facebook.com/hitchingpost2" 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/hitchingpost2" target="_blank" icon_color="#ffffff" background_color="#8b2b7a"][vc_column_text css=""]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 -...

01 Mar

Posted at 23:12h in 2026 Wineries, 2027 Wineries, Los Angeles 2026, San Jose 2027, 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,...

13 Mar

Posted at 04:24h in 2024 Wineries, 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...