One of the facts that I find myself repeating to those curious about California wine or those asking how to liven up their wine-drinking lives is that 93% of California’s vineyard acreage is planted to only 8 grape varieties. Yet there are hundreds of different winegrape varieties planted in the state.
Life is simply far too short to drink Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Gris, and the other such “usual suspects” all the time. The beauty of the wine world can be found (to a large degree) in its staggering diversity of grape varieties, each offering its own unique flavor and aromatic profile.
Which is where the Festival of Undiscovered Grapes comes in. Formerly known as the Festival of Forgotten Grapes, this tasting aims to make available for tasting hundreds of wines made from lesser-known grapes.
I don’t know about you, but that sounds like one hell of a good time to me. Wineries pouring their diverse bottlings include: Absolution Cellars, ACORN and Ancient Oak, Acquiesce Winery, Alamati Wine, Alamitos Vineyards, Alta Colina Vineyard & Winery, AmByth Estate, Anaya Vineyards, Andis Wines & Painted Fields, Bokisch Vineyards, Brecon Estate, Brosseau Wines, Cairjn Wine Cellars, Camins 2 Dreams, Cary Q Wines, Clif Family Winery & Farm, Comunità, Copia Vineyards and Winery, CrossHatch Winery, Derby Wine Estates, Drava Wines, Dry Creek Vineyard, Giornata, Harney Lane Vineyards, Heleje Wine Co, Idlewild, INTERCOASTAL Wine Company, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, JMC Cellars, Kinetic Cellars, Lava Cap Winery, Lyons Vineyard, m2 Wines, Madroña Vineyards, Marchelle Wines, Martha Stoumen Wines, McPrice Myers Wines, Omega Road Winery, Ottavino Wines, Oxlee Graham Wines, Pali Wine Co., Pedroncelli Winery, Perlegos Wine, Post & Vine Wines, PRIE Winery, Rideau Vineyard, Ridge Vineyards, San Rucci Winery, St. Amant Winery, Starfield Vineyards, The Steven Kent Winery, Stolpman Vineyards, Tablas Creek Vineyard, Tansy, Terah Wine Co., Tercero Wines, Thacher Winery and Vineyard, Trail Marker Wine Co., Tres Sabores Winery, Twice Tyger, Two Shepherds, UNTI Vineyards, Vigo Cellars, Vino Noceto Winery, Vino Tahoe | Pansaré | Amador Heights, Vinyl Vineyards, and Wild Rejoice Wine Company.
The event takes place at the Rotary Summit Center in San Jose on Saturday, January 31st, from noon to 5 PM. There will be food vendors on-site from which food can be purchased, and those who opt for a VIP ticket can attend a pre-tasting seminar focused on Lodi wines, as well as start their tasting an hour early.
Handily, the wines at the tasting are also going to be available to purchase. VIP ticket holders can get free wine delivery of anything they order at the tasting, and a flat $20 fee covers delivery for those who opt for a normal ticket.
No matter how you do it, the afternoon promises to be a delightful exploration of flavor and discovery.
2026 Festival of Undiscovered Grapes
Saturday, January 31 – 12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM
Scott’s Seafood Ballroom at The Rotary Summit Center
88 S 4th Street, 7th Floor
San Jose, CA 95112 (map)
Tickets will run you $79.04 for general admission and $132.54 for VIPs, and should be purchased in advance online. My usual tips for such tastings apply: arrive well-slept and hydrated; drink water and eat while you taste; and spit your wine so you can actually remember what you tasted later!
