Boutz Cellars
Paso Sherpa recently attended the 2026 White Wine Invitational for the first time. The event was held at Rava Wines’ event center and moved indoors at the last minute to beat the heat. The crowd was great, with close to 25 wineries serving their best and most distinctive offerings. We saw several familiar favorites, but we tried to focus on new winemakers—or at least wineries that were new to us. After a few hours of very difficult tasting, we selected our three personal favorites from among the new wines we tried.
Monochrome’s Gewürztraminer blend was wonderfully fresh and herbal, yet comfortably dry. Next, we were impressed by Rococo, part of Willow Creek Wine Co., and its full lineup of Chenin Blancs. Our choice was the 2025 Los Alamos Chenin Blanc. However, our overall favorite—and the most unique wine of the day—was a beautiful Moschofilero from Boutz Cellars in Paso Robles’ Adelaida District AVA. This family winery began as James’s hobby in 1994 and continues today as a father-and-son operation, with the entire family lending a hand. Their journey since 2020 has been fascinating. They have worked to find and grow hard-to-find Greek grape varieties, beginning with Assyrtiko, Moschofilero, and Vidiano. They later expanded their plantings to include Xinomavro, Agiorgitiko, Liatiko, and, most recently, Kotsifali. Each vine is farmed by hand, with Manoli taking the lead in producing the best possible fruit for his father James’s winemaking.
Judging by the white wines we tasted, the family is doing amazing work. Their Rhône-style red wines are also beautiful expressions of the terroir. Wines made from their red Greek varieties are not yet available, but we look forward to tasting them in the future.
Boutz Cellars is a must-visit. Be patient and take the time to listen as James discusses the family’s traditions and Manoli shares stories about his work in the vineyards. The Boutz family takes the time to express both its wines and its heart.
