01 Jul Please The Palate July 2025 Newsletter

Summer is here and with it comes the 14th anniversary of Please The Palate. I am proud to be celebrating another year of business, especially amidst the challenges the wine industry is facing. And we are all feeling it. In the more than two decades that I have worked in the wine industry, I have seen challenges and changes, but nothing has been like this. It seems like the wine industry is being hit on every side, all at once. Costs are up, consumption is down. There is the threat of tariffs and an anti-alcohol sentiment. I have felt these challenges over the past two years but continue to try to push through with an optimistic attitude.

Despite the challenges, there have been reasons to celebrate!

In March, the 2nd annual Festival of Forgotten Grapes took place in Los Angeles and it was a great success. Everything doubled between year one and two, the number of wineries (32 wineries to 60 wineries), the number of attendees (200 attendees to 400 attendees), and the total wine sales. And, I am excited to share that The Festival of Forgotten Grapes has been nominated for Best Wine Festival for the for the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards. Voting began on Monday, June 23rd and ends on Monday, July 21st at 11:59am EDT. The top 10 winners, as ranked by USA TODAY 10BEST readers, will be announced on Wednesday, July 30th at noon EDT. Please take a moment to vote today, and every day until July 21st!

And, save the date for next year! Not only will the event return to Los Angeles on Saturday, March 28, 2026, but it will also take place in San Jose on Saturday, January 31, 2026.

In other news, since my last newsletter, I was one of 100 journalists from around the world who traveled to Sicily to attend Siclia en Premeur. In small groups, we traveled around different areas of Sicily for 3 days. I went to Etna (before the volcano erupted) and the island of Lipari. We then all met in the city of Modica where producers from all over the island joined us for tastings.

I was recently interviewed for Hopskip, a platform that connects experienced planners with hotel venues. It was an honor to be profiled under their Planner Perspectives: Calm, Curated, and Intentional: How Allison Levine Elevates Wine Events Nationwide.

In addition, I was profiled in Winefullness Magazine, a British publication by wine writer Tony Harries. He asked 15 Questions and published My Answers.

In June, after a 4-day deep dive into Sonoma with Fred Swan’s Wine Writers’ Educational Tour, I returned to Livermore Valley to interview winemakers for the Wine Soundtrack podcast. I also returned as a judge at the Central Coast Wine Competition in Paso Robles and the Critics Challenge in San Diego.

And for some exciting news, I won an award for my wine writing! In May, I traveled to London to receive my award from the Wine Travel Awards for “The Brightest Journey”. Here is a recap of the ceremony: Wine Travel Awards 2024-2025: Where Wine, Travel and Culture Converged at London Wine Fair.

In addition, Wine Soundtrack – USA, the podcast I have hosted for seven years, has been ranked among the Top 100 Wine Podcasts on the web, as selected by the editorial team at MillionPodcasts. We have also been featured on their Top 35 California Wine Podcasts and Top 100 Wine Education Podcasts lists!

Special Offers for Wine Lovers

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

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! 

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).

July offering:
Cuatro Dias
2 white wines + 2 red wines
$109 + tax ($160 value)

August offering:
The Steven Kent Winery
1 white + 1 rose wine + 2 red wines (all made with Cabernet Franc)
$109 + tax ($160 value)

September offering:
Stolpman 
1 white + 3 red wines
$109 + tax ($134 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 July 2025 Newsletter.