Golden State Pioneers | Filipino-American Entrepreneurs Shaping California's Natural Wine Scene
Photo Credti: IG @spoonandporkla
If you’re a fellow wine drinker AND supporter of Filipino businesses, then you've also probably noticed that the wine scene has been experiencing a fascinating shift in recent years. Gone are the days when choosing a bottle of vino was just about red or white. Today, if you’re a conscious consumer or oenophile, it's all about savoring the stories behind the wine, embracing authenticity, and toasting to the environment with a glass of the good stuff: the “natty” wines.
But if this is news to you, you may be wondering, what makes a wine “natural” In order for a wine to be considered natural, it must be made with minimal intervention, allowing the grapes to remain the star of the show. Grapes must be organically farmed, grown by small-scale farmers, fermented with no added yeasts or additives, and with little or no sulfites. By definition alone, you can see that natural wines are created by a very manual process, with no machinery or fancy equipment. Because the process used to produce natural wines reduces the carbon footprint compared to mass-produced wines, perception is that it’s better for the environment. Though, because it’s so laborious to make, it’s made in small batches and available in limited quantities.
We've discovered a group of Filipino-American entrepreneurs who are not only creating a buzz (pun intended) but also raising a toast to their heritage by curating natural wine and gastronomical experiences like no other. These visionaries are transforming our idea of a wine night out, one bottle and one pairing at a time. Their businesses are not just about uncorking the finest vintages; they're about sipping on sustainability, authenticity, and a whole lot of culture. Cheers to a new generation of wine experiences!
1. Vineyard Gate
Vineyard Gate was ahead of its time! Alex Bernardo, a former business consultant in Silicon Valley, gave up his lucrative career to do something completely different. In 1998, he and his late wife, Amy, opened up a tiny natural wine shop and bar in downtown Millbrae, just minutes from the San Francisco airport.
Vineyard Gate is focused on artisanal and natural wines from small producers around the world. Most of the wines sold here are obscure and hard to find. They carry stuff that no one talks about or has caught on to just yet. Customers drive from all over the Bay Area down to the peninsula to come to his shop. He also serves snacks, coffee, and wines by the glass. It’s an amazing place to come “wine down”.
Photo Credit: IG @vineyardgate
2. Lasita
Lasita is a casual Filipino-American rotisserie and natural wine bar based in downtown Los Angeles. Their focus is on fun, food and wine! It’s a small hang out located in Chinatown’s Far East Plaza. Lasita is the newborn child of Lasa, which was the first born business founded by Chase and Chad Valencia. The brother duo started their food venture in 2016 as a pop-up, which turned into fine dining, Lasa. Like many, Lasa had to pivot during the pandemic. During that time, they made meal kits and food for frontline workers. In 2021, Lasa reemerged into Lasita, which is run by Chase and his wife, Steff, along with Chef Nico de Leon.
Some fan favorites are the adobo marinated olives and sinigang shrimp chips to start. Of course, the chicken inasal and pork belly lechon are the stars. Don’t forget to pair them with the chicken fat rice. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, there are options for you such as garlic fried rice, long beans and atchara.
Let’s not forget the natty wines! You can order them by the glass or bottle. They offer sparkling, white and red wines from around the world. Lasita mostly offers skin-contact wines and light, chillable reds from Loire Valley and Beaujolais.
Photo Credit: IG @lasita.la
3. Native Fields
Native Fields is a sister-owned business founded in 2018 by Chef Cat Castaneda and Christine Cornwell. Their restaurant is a dedication to their late father, Marcel, who passed away from complications of cancer in 2016. Chef Cat graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. She’s had the opportunity to work with her mentor, James Beard Award winning chef, Suzanna Goin. She’s also worked for Octavio Becerra as a sous chef at Palate Food & Wine before moving over to help open Forage, Silverlake’s first organic fast-casual restaurant.
Native Fields is a farm-to-table restaurant committed to providing their community with healthier options that are pesticide-free and non-GMO ingredients sourced from local farmers markets in California. They have a vast menu starting with breakfast which is served until 3 PM. Starting at 11 AM, they also serve a variety of pastas, sandwiches, bowls and plates. You’ll even find Filipino Pork Sisig next to a Vegan Power Bowl on their menu. Some fan favorites are the chicken tocino bowl, avocado toast and french toast. There’s something on the menu to satisfy everyone’s palette.
They also host happy hour from 4-7 PM Wednesday through Friday. They serve natural wines that they’ve hand-picked from the most limited production wines from small batch producers who are committed to sustainable farming practices. They even have a wine club which grants you access to exclusive and rare wines. Membership starts at $60 for 2 bottles of wine, and if you’re feeling bourgeoisie, you can get 4 bottles for $120.
Photo Credit: IG @nativefieldsla
4. Spoon & Pork
Spoon & Pork is a dream come true for Jay Tugas and Ray Yaptinchay, two friends who grew up in the Philippines and moved to the United States where they now share their culture through their food. In 2017, they started a food truck, then opened their first brick and mortar location in Silverlake in 2019, followed by their second location in Sawtelle in 2021.
Spoon & Pork is a Michelin star rated restaurant that serves modern Filipino comfort food like adobo, lumpia, chicharron, pancit, sisig, and garlic rice to name a few. Their Patita and Coco Jack were named best dishes of 2019 by the Los Angeles Times and New York Times.
Spoon & Pork also serves natural wines by the glass or bottle. Their menu includes sparkling, white, orange, and mostly red wines. Popular picks are the Salad Days Pet-Nat Sparkling White Wine Field Recordings, Terra Vita Large Soif 2020, and Hipster Animal.
Photo Credti: IG @spoonandporkla
This list is by no means exhaustive, but it’s a good place to start if you’d like to try out natural wines. If you’re in California, hit up these Filipino-American owned establishments and have a glass or bottle of natural wine. Cheers!
Filipino names are truly some of the most diverse names you’ll ever come across. Our last names alone can have Spanish influence, Chinese influence, and in some cases American influences due to the involvement of the U.S. during World War II.
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