Officially announced is Alternative Tastes Wine Fest: A Celebration of Unique Varieties to be held in Paso Robles, California on Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8, 2024. During the two day extravaganza, Albariño and Tannat, two trending varietals on the Central Coast, are the stars.
This festival was founded in response to popular Albariño and Tannat special interest group tastings hosted by Damian Grindley, Owner/Winemaker at Brecon Estate. “Folks just love these focused wine tastings. Nowhere else can you deep dive into the next potential big thing,” stated Grindley, the festival’s Co-Chair. Denise and Scott Schramm, Owners of CRUSH Vineyard, reached out to Grindley with a proposal to help combine the two tasting events and open the doors to the public.
Co-Chairs Denise and Scott Schramm and Damian Grindley with Rachael Fisher
Grindley has always been an advocate of Albariño from the Central Coast. “If you want one phrase to encapsulate Albariño, then the famous slogan ‘Go West” young man, which I think has been used in print since at least the 1860’s, would be more than apt,” he remarked. “Whether it be here, on the breathtaking Central Coast, or in its native homeland of Northern Spain’s/Portugal’s windswept Atlantic Coast, arguably it excels just in these two places where it basks in the cooling ocean breezes. That maritime influence extends the growing season and lets the flavors fully develop, and best bit of all, it pairs oh so well with the freshly landed seafood cuisine rooted in both regions.”
Planted in 2007, 5 acres of award-winning Tannat and Tempranillo are sustainably farmed and hand picked at CRUSH Vineyard. “The rugged terrain and calcareous soils provide the perfect foundation to construct Tannat wines with age worthy tannins, acids and minerality,” explained Scott Schramm. “The climate provides long ripening seasons into November which allows Tannat to reach its peak ripeness/phenolics. Tannat, being a smaller, dark, thick skin berry with up to 5 seeds (most grape berries have 2 to 3 seeds), requires longer hang time to ripen producing wines deep in color, luscious fruit and well balanced tannins and acid. Most wine growing regions just don’t have the length of growing season or the diurnal temperature shifts we are so fortunate to have in Paso to produce exceptional Tannat wines.”
At Alternative Tastes Wine Fest: A Celebration of Unique Varieties, exclusive Albariño and Tannat from the Central Coast take a well-deserved bow.
Jump starting the festival will be a memorable sunset alfresco VIP Dining Experience at Brecon Estate featuring Oak & Vine as the culinary team on Friday, June 7. The celebration resumes on Saturday, June 8 at Broken Earth Winery where two comprehensive educational seminars, each focusing on Albariño or Tannat, will be held. From 12:30 -1:30pm VIP ticket holders receive early access to the Grand Tasting and Charity Auction where 30 local boutique winemakers will be pouring wines for festival goers. General admission begins at 1:30pm and ends at 4:00pm.
As a bonus, silent auction items will be displayed during the Grand Tasting. It will included exclusive wines and not-to-be-missed wine country experience packages. All proceeds from the auction and net proceeds from the event benefit Flag Ranch, a 501(c3) public charity, facilitating collaboration between horses and people.
Ticket options range from $65 to $110 and are on sale now. Early Bird pricing ends April 30. For more information and tickets, click HERE.
Cheers! ~ Cindy
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