Stories of the nominees

Festival of Forgotten Grapes by Allison Levine

USA

In April 2025, the second annual Festival of Forgotten Grapes took place – an event dedicated to California’s “forgotten” grape varieties. The festival organizer Allison Levine is a Wine Travel Awards nominee and winner of Wine & Food Influencer/The Brightest Journey.

“I spent most of the past quarter working on this event. For the second annual event that celebrates the “forgotten grapes” of California, I nearly doubled everything (wineries, wines, and attendees) from year one! ” – says Allison Levine in her blog Please The Palate.

Festival of Forgotten Grapes

The festival featured 60 wineries and showcased 258 wines made from 96 grape varieties, with around 400 guests attending to enjoy the experience.

“It is so exciting and gratifying to see so many people excited to explore the vast diversity of grape varieties that exist in California and to celebrate the winemakers who champion these grapes! While I am still trying to recover from this year’s event, I am already thinking about 2026 in Los Angeles and also considering adding a second city in California. We will see!” – writes Allison.

Allison Levine’s blog Please The Palate was included in the Top 100 Wine Blogs and Top 100 Cocktail Blogs in the world by FeedSpot. Her podcast, Wine Soundtrack USA, was also named one of the Top 100 Wine Podcasts by Million Podcasts.

On Please The Palate, Allison introduces readers to producers through their stories and tasting events. She admits she loves connecting people with small, family-owned wineries in California that produce between 500 and 5,000 cases of wine per year.

Festival of Forgotten Grapes

“Together with Chris Kern (a writer, wine educator, and sommelier – editor’s note), we offer a monthly wine bundle of four bottles for $109 from one of these outstanding winemakers. You’ll also receive an invitation to a virtual tasting with the owner or winemaker, held on the second Thursday of each month.”

You can reach Allison Levine at info@pleasethepalate.com.

Follow her blog, listen to the podcast, and drink good California wine – it’s worth it.

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Photo: festivalofforgottengrapes.com