The two-day event will showcase pours and hot discussion topics from producers who are supported and promoted beyond the festival
July 13, 2026 (Berkeley, CA) — Unfiltered: A Celebration of Wine on the Edge, returns to Donkey & Goat Winery in Berkeley on July 25 and 26, 2026, with a new lineup of dynamic winemakers, provocative discussion topics and an innovative model that supports wine producers amid a challenging industry and overall economic climate.
Unfiltered features 60 of the region’s leading natural and low-intervention winemakers pouring wines in an intimate setting that facilitates interaction between producers and attendees as well as during curated discussions. Capacity is intentionally limited to foster connection, discovery and conversation. Unlike most wine festivals, Unfiltered does not charge wineries a fee and even seeks to reimburse them for wine poured via a profit-sharing model that helps offset the cost of participating and includes take-home bottle sales onsite.
Unfiltered aims to convert festival visibility into measurable shelf presence and distribution for participating wineries via a partnership with Vintage Berkeley. In the months leading up to the festival, the prominent wine retailer integrated the producers into its three locations through featured placements and events, building community and continuity for the independent wineries.
“Festivals shouldn’t leave winemakers with empty bottles and empty pockets, and they shouldn’t end when the tents come down,” notes festival founder and former community activist Andrew Sullivan. “Festivals should create lasting commercial impact.”
Another goal of Unfiltered, which is supported by Visit Berkeley, is to establish the city as a thriving hub for independent wineries, just as it has been a pioneering locale for the slow-food and environmental sustainability movements.
“The Bay Area has built an entire culinary culture around supporting local farms and artisan food producers. We celebrate organic agriculture and small-batch makers. But when it comes to wine, even progressive restaurants often look to Europe for their lists,” says winemaker Matt Niess of North American Press. “Unfiltered is challenging that disconnect by showcasing the incredible diversity of winemaking talent right here in our own backyard. Unfiltered isn’t a one-off event — it’s a new framework that proves there is real demand for what we’re creating locally.”
Another differentiator of Unfiltered is the focus on panel discussions, which are designed to generate a deeper dialogue on the following topics about the philosophies, challenges and innovations shaping the future and culture of wine:
- Breaking the Champagne Spell: California’s Great Sparkling Wine Experiment
- From Chad Hinds’ “Psychic Terroir” to Vinyl Listening Bars: Recentering the Experiential Value of Wine Through Music
- An Essential and Elusive Grail: Imagining the Future of California Table Wine
- Natural vs. Conventional: Where Is the Line and Why Does It Matter?
- The Lodi Effect: How Did Lodi Become a Hotbed for Creativity in Wine?
- What Makes a Great Wine: Restraint vs. Risk
Schedule (for both Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26)
Industry Tasting: 12 to 1 p.m.
General Admission: 1 to 5 p.m.
After Party: 6-9 p.m. at Vintage Berkeley (2113 Vine Street, Berkeley, CA)
Tickets
Single-day ticket: $65
Weekend pass: $95
Food from local chefs will be available for purchase and attendees will enjoy the ambient tunes from DJs spinning vinyl. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to https://www.donkeyandgoat.com/unfiltered/
Leading up to the festival, Unfiltered-related events featuring participating winemakers will take place throughout the Bay Area. Go to https://www.instagram.com/unfilteredwinefestival/ to learn more.
About Unfiltered
Unfiltered: A Celebration of Wine on the Edge is a highly curated annual festival showcasing over 60 of California’s most dynamic natural and low-intervention winemakers. Supported by Visit Berkeley, Donkey & Goat Winery, Vintage Berkeley and The Indie Wine Podcast, the event pairs tastings with educational panel discussions to foster connection, discovery and industry transparency. Unfiltered is dedicated to rewriting the economics of the artisan wine industry through a cooperative, zero-fee approach that implements profit sharing to ensure winemakers are compensated for their participation. For more information, panel schedules, and tickets, visit https://www.donkeyandgoat.com/unfiltered/
