UNFILTERED 2026: A Celebration of Wine on the Edge -- July 25 & 26 Berkeley CA

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I just published the event page and line up for this year’s event. We worked hard to create a compelling representation of our local artisan winemakers. I will publish the list of Discussion Panel Topics and Panelists shortly. It should be a great weekend of wine and conversation. Thanks to the Berserkers who helped compile this list and hone the topics.

Just received word from Nicole Walsh that she’ll be participating at the festival and will be bringing Randall Grahm with her. Randall will participate on the panel with Chad Arnold, Joe Davis and Brent Mayeaux, ‘What Makes A Great Wine?’ Joe and Randall will also be pouring their wines from Arcadian and Popelouchum. NIcole will be participating on the panel, ‘Where is the line between natural and conventional? And why does it matter?’ and pouring her Ser wines. This is a bit like hosting Santa Cruz royalty.

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Can you edit the dates and city into the title?

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Giving this a bump. Coming up this weekend. Here’s the Unfiltered page that includes ticket links;

And here’s further info plus the list of wineries and discussion panels - different ones each day:

Unfiltered: A Celebration of Wine on the Edge
Saturday, July 25 & Sunday, July 26, 2026
Hosted at Donkey & Goat Winery · Berkeley, CA

60 of the region’s most dynamic natural and low‑intervention winemakers. The festival brings together the full spectrum of winemaking, from small, avant‑garde producers pushing boundaries to long‑standing legacy wineries that have shaped their regions for decades.

Panel discussions throughout the weekend invite deeper dialogue, offering insight into the philosophies, challenges, and innovations shaping the future of wine and the culture it supports. Local chefs provide tasty bites, and ambient vinyl sets the tone for an intimate, engaging experience.

Capacity is intentionally limited to foster connection, discovery, and conversation. Leading up to the festival, Unfiltered‑related events featuring participating winemakers will take place throughout the Bay Area.

‘Unfiltered: A Celebration of Wine on the Edge’ is building on last year’s success, and working closely with Bay Area retailers with the goal of converting festival visibility into measurable shelf presence and distribution for small producers and legacy wineries. This event is about building continuity for independent wineries.

Schedule
Industry Tasting: 12:00–1:00 PM
General Admission: 1:00–5:00 PM
After Party: Sat & Sun 6:00 PM–9:00 PM at Vintage Berkeley (Vine Street Store)

TICKETS & PRICING
One day ticket – $65
Full Weekend Pass – $95
(D&G Club Members and Vintage Berkeley Club Members get 20% off tickets

PARTICIPATING WINEMAKERS
(Note: Each day features an entirely different line-up of wine makers)

2026 Unfiltered Winemaker to Watch:
Alli Badar, Inter Tidal Wines

Saturday, July 25
AmByth Estate
Analog Wine Co.
Caleb Leisure
Clos Saron
Donkey & Goat
Driftwood Cottage
En Cavale
Feral Ecology
Forlorn Hope
Frenchtown Farms
Fres.co Wine
Ghostnote
Grenachista
Ian Brand Wines
Inter Tidal Wines
Iruai Wine
Joseph‑Jibril
Lula
Matt Crutchfield Wines
Onward Wines
Prima Materia
Reclamation Wines
Rootdown Cellars
Spur Road
Thee And Thou Wines
A Tribute to Grace
Unturned Stone
Vine Farm Ridge
Volta
Wonderwerk

Sunday, July 26
280 Project
Arcadian
Bedrock
Ellsworth Wines
Enfield
Etteilla Wines
Gondak Cellars
Haarmeyer Wine
Helia Wine Co.
Hovik Wine
Mad Marvlus Wine
Madson Wines
Maison Des Plaisances
Minus Tide Wines
Native Bloom Winery
Newfound Wines
Ottavino Wines
Popelouchum Estate
Precedent
Ruby Blanca
Ruth Lewandowski
Ryme Cellars
Samuel Louis Smith
Schema Wines
Ser Wines
Stagiaire Wine
Trail Marker Wine
Virgo Magic
Ward Four

PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Saturday July 25

Breaking the Champagne Spell: California’s Great Sparkling Wine Experiment
Jared Brandt, Brad Kurtz (Gloria Ferrer), Michael Cruse, Chris Cottrell
Moderated by Matt Wood of The Indie Wine Podcast

From Chad Hinds’ ‘Psychic Terroir’ to Vinyl Listening Bars: Recentering The Experiencial Value of Wine Through Music
Chad Hinds (Village fm), DJ D’Aramis Byrd (EDEN wine events), Issamu Kamide (Wonderwerk), Tony Ferraro (of Village Wine Bar in Vallejo and touring member of Toro y Moi)
Moderated by Wolfgang Weber

An Essential and Elusive Grail: Imagining the Future of California Table Wine
Stephanie Bolton, PhD (Lodi Wine), John Locke (Birichino), Shaunt Ongoulian (Populis—Les Lunes), Ana Caroline Quintela, Freelance Journalist (Decanter, Jancis.Com and more).
Moderated by Gilian Handelman, Sr. Vice President of Education, Jackson Family Wines

Sunday July 26

Natural vs. Conventional: Where Is The Line and Why Does It Matter?
Joe Davis (Arcadian), Nicole Walsh (SER Wine), Brent Mayeaux (Stagiaire), Sydney Rogers (Opus One)
Moderated by Jared Brandt, Co-founder of Donkey and Goat

The Lodi Effect: How Did Lodi Become a Hotbed for Creativity in Wine?
Drew Huffine (Trail Marker), Sabrina Tamayo (Ruby Blanca), Jakes Des Voignes (Heleje), Ann-Marie Koth (Mokelumne Glen Vineyards)
Moderated by Maryam Ahmed of Maryam + Company

What Makes A Great Wine: Restraint versus Risk
Brent Mayeaux (Stagiaire), Angela Osborne (A Tribute to Grace), Gideon (Clos Saron), Randal Grahm (Bonny Doon), Kimberly Charles (President and Founder, Charles Communications Associates)
Moderated by Chad Arnold, GM and Head Buyer at Paul Marcus Wines

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I saw the list of what’s being poured. I never got a chance to try Caleb Leisure’s Sicilian blend from the Petrera Nera and Sicilian Grenache that Bryan Harrington brought back. I’ll be interesting to try Randall Graham’s Aligote against Katie’s. Same vineyard and vintage. Anyone going should be sure to try Ghostnote, I. Brand and the Arcadian library wines.

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