Alternative Tastes Wine Festival returns to Atascadero March 28
– The 3rd Annual Alternative Tastes Wine Festival will return March 28, offering attendees the opportunity to taste wines made from rare and hard-to-find grape varieties, according to organizers.
Scott and Denise Schramm of Crush Vineyard in Paso Robles organized this year’s event, which focuses on diversity and innovation in California winemaking. The festival began in 2024 as a celebration of Albariño and Tannat and has expanded to include a broader selection of uncommon white and red wines. This year’s event highlights wines produced from grape varieties with fewer than 1,000 acres planted in California.
Paso Robles is home to more than 65 grape varieties, and attendees will have the opportunity to taste 25 wine varieties during the grand tasting while meeting participating winemakers.
The event will include a blind tasting educational seminar from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring Hal Schmitt of Volatus, Carl Bowker of Caliza and End of the Day, and Brenna Pratt of Midnight Cellars. Hal Schmitt and Mira Honeycutt, a wine author and journalist, will moderate the seminar. The grand tasting will take place from 1 to 4 p.m.
Food will be available for purchase from Baby Bear Biscuits and Quesadilla Gorilla. The event will also include a silent auction benefiting Flag Ranch, home to The Flag Foundation, a public charity that facilitates collaboration between horses and people. Organizers said charitable gifts support the care of the herd and land.
The festival will take place at Pavilion on the Lake, 9315 Pismo Ave., Atascadero. Early bird grand tasting tickets cost $50, and early bird seminar and grand tasting tickets cost $75. Designated drivers may attend at no cost. Early bird pricing is available through Feb. 28, after which prices will increase by $10.
Tickets are available at my805tix.com/e/alternative-tastes-26/tickets. Additional information is available at alternativetasteswinefestival.com.
Participating wineries include Alara Cellars, Allegretto Wines, B2B Wines, Brecon Estate, Boutz Cellars, Bushong Vintage Co., Crush Vineyard, Caliza Winery, End of the Day, Gali Vineyards, In Due Time, Loma Seca, Lone Madrone, MEA Wine, Midnight Cellars, Moose Mountain Vineyards, Optio Vineyards, Parr Collective, Stiekema Wine Co., Tablas Creek, Terranean, Thacher Winery, Tribeca Wine Co., Ulloa Cellars, Vinyl Vineyards, Volatus, and Witch and the Warlock.
