07 Oct Please The Palate October 2025 Newsletter

Hard to believe summer is over. I spent most of it on the road. I started the summer with another trip to Italy, this time to visit two wineries in Tuscany (stories are below). I got home and immediately turned around for a three week road trip across California to do 28 updates for the Slow Wine Guide 2026. My route took me: Los Angeles – Santa Maria – Edna Valley – Hollister – Lodi – Berkeley – Napa – Sonoma – Carmel – Los Angeles. It was a great trip that also enabled me to visit with friends and do a few podcast interviews for Wine Soundtrack. As soon as I came home from that trip, I hopped on a plane back up north for a weekend with Ironstone Vineyard in Murphys in the Sierra Foothills (story below) which included an amazing concert with Melissa Etheridge, the Indigo Girls, and KT Tunstall. I had a quick week at home before heading back on the road for a week in the Santa Ynez Valley to complete another 25 interviews for the 2026 Slow Wine Guide. While I was in Santa Ynez, I also attended one of my favorite events of the year, the Sta. Rita Hills Wine & Fire weekend, as well as a Greek-themed dinner at Vega Vineyard. After coming home from trip, I was home for the rest of August. But in September, I returned to Italy (yes, again). I spent a few days visiting Avignonesi in Tuscany and then headed to Maremma to visit La Maliosa. Then I flew down to Sicily for Etna Days. And now we are in October!

I am excited to share that after just two years, The Festival of Forgotten Grapes captured national attention and the palates of curious wine lovers and was recently named the #2 Wine Festival in the U.S. by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. This is a significant recognition for a young, independent festival. And, the other big news is that the event will NOW be known as The Festival of Undiscovered Grapes, a shift that reflects the spirit of curiosity and exploration at the heart of the experience.

If you live in San Jose or Los Angeles (or want to travel to either city), save the dates! And spread the word! To be notified when tickets go on sale, sign up here!

San Jose: Saturday, January 31, 2026
Los Angeles: Saturday, March 28, 2026

Attention New York! The New York Wine Experience is Returning! Save the Date!

Tuesday, November 18
Trade and Media from 12pm – 4pm
Consumer from 6pm – 9pm

Announcing Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate

I am excited to share a new book that my good friend, pastry chef, and Top Chef alum Marisa Churchill has written. I first met Marisa many years ago when I hired her for a Wine & Spirits event in Beaver Creek. After that, we became good friends. Her upcoming novel is called Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate. It’s about a magical cooking competition, and was inspired by her experiences competing on Top Chef and Food Network Challenge. It also includes tasty 4 recipes.

Top Chef judge Gail Simmons had this to say about the book. “A delicious romp through a mysterious world of culinary magic. For food and fantasy lovers of all ages. I couldn’t put it down!” It’s sure to be a fantastic read and I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

With the release of her debut novel, Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate, Please the Palate is teaming up with Marisa for a fun giveaway. When you preorder Marisa’s book through Amazon or Barnes & Noble, one lucky winner will receive a half dozen custom Valrhona chocolates made by Marisa. These chocolates topped with icing sheet illustrations are super cool. To check them out, click here. Flavors include peanut butter cup with Greek sea salt, “Oreo” sandwich cookie with Pop Rocks, and pretzel bits with toffee.

The winner will also receive two tickets to The Festival of Undiscovered Grapes (in San Jose (January 31, 2026) or Los Angeles (March 28, 2026)). This giveaway will also help to support a great cause. For every book that is purchased, Marisa will donate a book to Access Books, a Bay Area non-profit that is dedicated to bridging the literacy gap and getting books into the hands of kids in underserved communities.

The winner will be announced on November 1st via Instagram and email.

To be entered in the contest, you must email marisa@marisachurchill.com with the subject Please the Palate Giveaway. Let her know your name and include a screenshot of the preordered book and you’ll be entered into the giveaway.

If you have a tween/young teen girl in your home, or love Harry Potter and chocolate, preorder your book today!

Other Special offers

Special Offers for Wine Lovers

If you pick up wines along your travels or just find that you have too much wine at home, I suggest looking into a wine storage facility and Wine Storage Management is the answer. Wine Storage Management (WSM) provides state-of-the-art wine storage in Los Angeles (Redondo Beach, Playa del Rey, Marina del Rey, Culver City) and San Francisco (South Beach Rincon Hill), with secure and accessible wine lockers and walk-in wine rooms. You can access to your wine locker or walk-in room all day, every day, including holidays! Mention that you read about this in my newsletter and receive TWO MONTHS FREE at any location. And, if you book a locker in Redondo Beach or Playa Del Rey through August, you will receive FREE WINE RELOCATION SERVICES! 

As a wine traveler, one item I love is my Vingarde Valise suitcase. Whether I need to take wine with me or want to bring wine home, this suitcase always comes in handy. The suitcases come in various sizes and if you want one, I am happy to offer a 20% discount. Click on this link and put in the code: PTP20

Upcoming monthly virtual wine events:

Forgotten Grapes Monthly Virtual Tastings with Winemakers 

There are more than 3500 wineries in California. That is a lot of wineries. Many of these wineries are small, family-owned businesses making anywhere from 500-5000 cases. At Please The Palate, owner Allison Levine loves to seek out these small producers and introduce them to friends through stories and events. Each month, in partnership with Chris Kern of Forgotten Grapes, we will offer 4 wines for $109 from one of these incredible producers. You will also be invited to our virtual tasting with the owner or winemaker on the second Thursday of each month.

If you are interested, please email me at info@pleasethepalate.com to let me know you would love to receive one of the $109 bundles (plus shipping if out of the Los Angeles area).

Upcoming Orders:

October offering:
San Rucci
1 white + 3 red wines
$109 + tax ($168 value)

November offering:
Dunites Wine Co
2 white + 2 red wines
$109 + tax ($130 value)

December offering:
Doctor’s Orders Wines
1 rose + 3 red wines (all Grenache-based wines)
$109 + tax ($116 value)

Forgotten Grapes is not a club and there is no commitment. Each month, a bundle of wines will be offered for a special price. If you are interested, you can order them. I’ll take your credit card and delivery information and will charge your card. If you live in Southern California, delivery is FREE and will be personally delivered to you (contactless). If you live beyond Southern California, wines can be shipped – $25 in California and $30 outside of California to the Western States (AZ, NV, OR, ID). For additional states, please contact us.

For a complete list of upcoming events, visit the Events Calendar on www.pleasethepalate.com

View the entire Please The Palate October 2025 Newsletter