Drink Differently and Taste Boldly at the 1st annual Festival of Forgotten Grapes on Saturday, June 29th in Los Angeles’ Downtown Arts District

(May 8, 2024; Los Angeles, CA) – Allison Levine, president of Please the Palate, and Chris Kern, founder of The Forgotten Grapes Wine Club, are thrilled to present the inaugural Festival of Forgotten Grapes, to take place on Saturday, June 29^th at Frankie Los Angeles in Los Angeles’ downtown Arts District. The event will run from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m., with VIP access and seminar beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Founded on the principle that there are hundreds of unique, unknown, and delicious wine grapes grown in California, despite the fact that just nine grape varieties make up 93% of the total wine production in the state, the Festival of Forgotten Grapes exalts the passionate winemakers and producers of these uncommon wines and introduces wine lovers to a diverse array of wines in a fun, casual, intimate environment.

The inaugural Festival of Forgotten Grapes will feature over 30 wineries from wine regions across California, including the Sierra Foothills, Lodi, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles Counties. Wineries will be pouring only their “Forgotten Grape” wines, meaning no Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Petit Sirah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, or Pinot Grigio will be served. Instead, wine lovers will have the chance to taste Cinsault, Counoise, Nebbiolo, Marsanne, Roussanne, Gruner Veltliner, and other rare “underdog” grape varieties from all over the world grown right here in California.

“The reason that the majority of winegrapes grown in the state of California focus on plantings of varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay is because land in our state is very expensive, and farmers can sell the standard varieties for more dollars per ton than other obscure grapes like Cinsault or Gruner Veltliner. It makes sense that other varieties are forgotten, but not for this group of passionate winemakers, who do it simply because they love it. They want to keep things interesting in a world of growing monotony across most consumable sectors,” says Levine, who is co-founder of the Festival of Forgotten Grapes, and also produces wine events globally and has an LA-based wine blog, found at www.PleasethePalate.com.

Attendees of the Festival will have the opportunity to select the Forgotten Grape wines they enjoy the most for purchase and have them delivered to their door for a single low delivery rate. No multiple packages from individual wineries or multiple shipping fees; all wines will be delivered directly to the attendee for a single flat fee. Delivery is for Southern California residents only (Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.)

“When you think about how there are 92,000 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and 47,000 acres of Pinot Noir planted in California compared to only 4500 acres of Grenache, 140 acres of Nebbiolo, and 65 acres of Counoise, you realize how special these Forgotten Grape wines are. We love celebrating the local winemakers and supporting our state’s farmers who are rescuing our palates from boredom!” said Festival of Forgotten Grapes co-founder and Please the Palate owner Allison Levine.

Adds Festival Co-Founder and founder of the Forgotten Grapes Wine Club Chris Kern, “Having the ability to purchase any of these wines on-site in any quantity and have them delivered to you for a single fee is a game changer when it comes to wine festivals. We’re so excited to introduce Los Angeles wine lovers to these historical, beautiful, and highly drinkable Forgotten Grapes.”

The Festival of Forgotten Grapes will be held on Saturday, June 29^th at Frankie Los Angeles, located at 300 South Mission Road in downtown LA. Tickets are currently on sale on the Festival website at www.festivalofforgottengrapes.com. Early bird general admission tickets are now available for $49 plus fees, increasing to $59 on May 15^th. General admission tickets give the attendee access to all 30-plus wineries and the wines they are pouring from 1:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., plus delivery of any wines purchased at the festival from as many wineries as they select for one low flat delivery fee.

A limited number of VIP tickets are also available at www.festivalofforgottengrapes.com for $75 plus fees. VIP access includes an extra hour of tasting time from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. before general admission, access to a pre-tasting seminar entitled, “Why Forgotten Grapes Became Forgotten” hosted by California winemaking legend Wes Hagen, and free delivery of any wines purchased at the Festival from any of the wineries.

Food vendors will be on-site with food available to purchase. Enjoy Argentine sandwiches from Gaucho Bites and customized pizzas from Boy Blue.

A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit Minds Matter Southern California. Minds Matter connects driven and determined students from low-income families with the people, preparation, and possibilities to succeed in college, create their future, and change the world.

For more information, visit www.festivalofforgottengrapes.com.