Author: Eva Crawford

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05 Aug

Posted at 02:27h in Press

A Wine Festival Unlike Any Other Is About to Change Everything. The Festival of Undiscovered Grapes is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about events in the world of wine. This rising star in the festival circuit is doing more than pouring wine; it's reshaping the narrative around what we drink and why. With its bold 2026 rebrand, a second city added to the lineup, and an immersive experience tailored for adventurous palates, the festival is setting a new standard in California wine culture—one where "undiscovered wine grapes" are front and center....

05 Aug

Posted at 02:27h in Press

While 'forgotten' captured the idea of overlooked varieties, 'undiscovered' better expresses the excitement of uncovering something new," says festival founder Allison Levine, a wine writer, educator, event planner, and longtime advocate for diversity in wine. "These wines aren't just relics of the past; they are vibrant, relevant, and full of potential. Our goal is to introduce people to what's possible beyond the usual handful of California varieties....

19 Dec

Posted at 02:27h in Press

If you've ever walked the wine aisle and felt like you're seeing the same grapes over and over, you're not wrong. There are thousands of grape varieties grown around the world and more than 110 planted right here in California — yet just nine grapes dominate 93% of all California wine production. Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir… you know the list. But what about the other 7%? That's where the Festival of Undiscovered Grapes comes in....

08 Jan

Posted at 02:27h in Press

One of the featured regions at this year's event is Lodi. You all know I'm a Livermore gal at heart, but Lodi is another area I genuinely enjoy exploring. It's home to some incredibly cool boutique wineries, several of which will be pouring at the festival — including Bokisch Vineyards, Harney Lane Winery, Acquiesce Winery, PRIE Winery, Anaya Vineyards, Drava, Heleje Wine Co. Intercoastal, Kinetic Cellars, m2 Wines, Perlegos Family Wine Co. and St. Amant Winery....

19 Apr

Posted at 02:27h in Press

Tired of the same old wines? Sure, we love our Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir, but there is a vast array of other wines yet to be discovered. Cue The Festival of Undiscovered Grapes! More than 60 wineries pouring rare and lesser-known varieties from California (where more than 110 unique wine grapes are cultivated) will be present in San Jose and Los Angeles....

13 Jan

Posted at 02:27h in Press

You've seen me write about the Festival of Undiscovered Grapes over the past few weeks. 60+ Wineries, all are boutique small producers, and they come from some of California's best wine regions. Case in point, Paso Robles - one of my absolute favorite wine regions. Paso wineries in attendance include Absolution Cellars, Alta Colina, Brecon Estate, Derby, Giornata, McPrice Myers, Tablas Creek, and many more!...

04 Feb

Posted at 10:16h in Press

Bay Area foodie friends, today, I get to share with you a new wine festival coming to San Jose! The Festival of Undiscovered Grapes (FOUG) has expanded to Northern California after two years of success in Los Angeles. One of my wine friends co-runs this festival and I love the concept! Why? Because as an average consumer with a special interest in wine, I relish hearing about new-to-me grape varieties. The first few years of wine exploration introduce folks to merlot, zinfandel, chardonnay, and the handful more grapes that most vineyards devote their plantings to and most consumers drink. But I quickly found myself intrigued by the unfamiliar grapes in a blend, the ones that add smoothness or boost the floral notes but rarely get their own time in the spotlight....

19 Apr

Posted at 02:27h in Press

Bay Area foodie friends, today, I get to share with you a new wine festival coming to San Jose! The Festival of Undiscovered Grapes (FOUG) has expanded to Northern California after two years of success in Los Angeles. One of my wine friends co-runs this festival and I love the concept! Why? Because as an average consumer with a special interest in wine, I relish hearing about new-to-me grape varieties. The first few years of wine exploration introduce folks to merlot, zinfandel, chardonnay, and the handful more grapes that most vineyards devote their plantings to and most consumers drink. But I quickly found myself intrigued by the unfamiliar grapes in a blend, the ones that add smoothness or boost the floral notes but rarely get their own time in the spotlight....

19 Apr

Posted at 02:27h in Press

One exciting event called starting out the year is "The Festival of Undiscovered Grapes" that will be held in San Jose on Saturday, January 31st. The event will take place at the Rotary Summit Center, 88 South 4th Street. The event will feature 60+ producers and more than 100 unique wines. Think of 2026 the year of discovery tasting wine varieties you may not be too familiar with such as Teroldego, Cinsault, Marsanne, Semillon and many more. While California grows more than 100 grape varieties, only 9 account for 93% of the "standard wine choices"....