Filipino Roots, Californian Vines | The Rise of Filipino American Wines

Written By Jennifer Redondo
May 23, 2025

California boasts numerous wine regions along its coast, including Napa Valley, Sonoma, Paso Robles, Lodi, and Temecula Valley, offering diverse tasting experiences. Growing up in a Filipino household, beer and hard liquor were common at gatherings, while wine was less so. However, this has shifted, with more Filipinos now embracing wine. Consequently, several Filipino-owned or influenced wine brands have emerged. 

The following list presents wineries and Filipino wines you need to consider for your next dinner party, girls' trip, or romantic escape.

1. Kale Wines

Founded in 2008 by Kale and Ranko Anderson in Northern California, Kale Wines is a small-production winery specializing in handcrafted Rhône varietals and Chardonnay. They source grapes from Northern California vineyards, employing both modern technologies and traditional methods to highlight the unique characteristics of each vineyard.

Kale Wines are available for tasting at The Wine Thief, located at 708 First Street, Napa, CA 94559. Tastings are offered Thursday through Tuesday, from 11 AM to 6 PM. Wine purchases and membership enrollment are available online.  

2. Dot Winery 

Lise Asimont, a wine industry veteran of over 20 years, and her husband Shawn Phillips established Dot Winery in Healdsburg, California in 2016. The venture began after Shawn challenged Lise to create a Pinot Noir that met her discerning palate, a challenge spurred by their routine of blind wine tastings after Lise's long days in the vineyards.

Dot Winery focuses on small-batch, vineyard-driven wines. Lise crafts wines – where she lets the grapes speak for themselves. She wants people to experience the natural characteristics of the grapes to shine through in the aroma and flavor. Dot makes a dry rosé, two Pinot Noirs, and a Chardonnay. 

Visit their winery or find their limited production wines at select retailers. Dot Winery is located at the Bacchus Landing Cellars Winery Cooperative at 14210 Bacchus Landing Way, Suite 201, Healdsburg, CA 95448. They offer tastings Friday - Sunday 11 AM - 5 PM, walk-ins are welcome pending space availability. On Monday-Thursday, they are open by appointment only. 

3. Sunstone Winery 

Teddy and Djamila Cabugos have owned Sunstone, an organic vineyard, winery, and villa retreat in Santa Ynez, California, since 2019. John and Janna Price joined them as owners in 2021. Situated 35 minutes north of Santa Barbara, the winery is known for its scenic location, featuring Provencal French courtyards, stone barrel-aging caves, and picnic areas. Sunstone has also been recognized for its outstanding tasting room in the valley.

 Sunstone Winery, Santa Barbara County's oldest continuously organically farmed vineyard, practices organic viticulture, avoiding herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fungicides. Specializing in Bordeaux and Rhone varietals, many of their wines have received 90+ point ratings. They come highly recommended by red wine enthusiasts. Popular choices include their 2021 Eros, 2021 Merlot Reserve, 2021 Rapsodie, and 2021 Syrah.

Sunstone Winery, situated at 125 Refugio Road in Santa Ynez, CA 93460, is open for daily wine tastings from 11 AM to 5 PM. While reservations are not mandatory, they are highly recommended.

4. Napa de Oro 

Napa de Oro is a winery co-owned by Noe “Butch” Taojo and Abe Marapao. The brand was inspired by Taojo’s family gold mining business. Over the years, Taojo developed a taste for great wine and decided to produce his own brand. In 2019, Napa de Oro purchased a six-acre property in the heart of Coombsville in Napa Valley. 

Napa de Oro produces small batches of seven wine varietals of wine. Their offerings include a Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, which are their most popular white and red wines, respectively. The winery also produces a Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, Grenache, Merlot, and their proprietary Caroline's Red Blend. 

Napa de Oro can be purchased online or at Gourmet Wines & Spirits in Los Angeles, California.  

5. Kabayan Wines 

Justine Osilla founded Kabayan Wines, a winery whose name, meaning "my people" in Tagalog, reflects its focus on community. Kabayan Wines focuses on crafting wines that pair well with Filipino cuisine, aiming to bridge cultural divides and introduce Filipino flavors to a wider audience. 

Kabayan Wines released their inaugural vintage in 2022: the 2022 Mourvèdre. This light-bodied and fruit-forward blend consists of 90% Mourvèdre, complemented by 7% Petite Sirah and 3% Syrah. The wine presents notes of red cherries, bramble fruit, plum, cocoa, and a touch of baking spice.

Kabayan Wines utilizes low intervention winemaking methods and emphasizes community throughout its production. These wines are crafted to complement Filipino cuisine. For example, the 2022 Mourvèdre's bright acidity makes it a suitable pairing for rich Filipino dishes such as sisig, lechon kawali, bistek, and lumpia.

Kabayan Wines offers its wine for purchase online. Currently, they only ship within California.

6. Felicità Wine Company

Established in 2015 by Filipina winemaker Feli Ortega, Felicità Wine Company specializes in wines sourced from Lodi, California. In 2022, they launched their inaugural Pinot Noir, "Pinay Noir™." This wine serves as Ortega's homage to the accomplishments of Filipinas globally and the resilient women in her family. The bottle features an original abstract artwork by Franceska Gámez.

Pinay Noir™ is available for purchase online in limited quantities with restricted shipping within the United States.

These Filipino-made and inspired wines offer a unique opportunity for discovery and enjoyment, ideally experienced alongside the diverse flavors of Filipino cuisine. This pairing promises to enhance the tasting experience, creating a harmonious blend of cultural heritage and culinary artistry. Crafted with passion and a nod to Filipino traditions, these wines aim to be accessible and appealing to a broad spectrum of palates, inviting both seasoned wine enthusiasts and newcomers to explore the rich tapestry of Filipino viticulture and gastronomy.

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Written By Jennifer Redondo

Co-Founder and Co-Author of In Her Purpose

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