Fiasco Winery

Fiasco Winery is a second label winery of nearby Jacksonville Vineyards. However, don’t mistake these wines for “second tier.” Rather, think of Fiasco Winery’s Italian-style wines as drinkable by themselves or paired with pasta or anything off the grill for that matter. Located right off Highway 238 in the Applegate Valley, the winery has some eye-catching signage and an attractive building that get your attention from the road. Fiasco is a convenient pit stop and a surprising find.

Owned by David and Pamela Palmer, Fiasco Winery is Pam’s daily domain. You can find her pouring wine, entertaining guests, and probably explaining for the umpteenth time why they named the winery “Fiasco.” (WineTrail note: As David explained to me, “fiasco” is a French term referring to a stage play gone bad. Of Italian origin, the word describes blown glass that easily breaks. We can only surmise that the Italian glass related to wine bottles.)

David, the human equivalent of the "Energizer Bunny," built the Fiasco Winery tasting room in less than a year. The stylish tasting room features plenty of light, a sand-covered floor, vintage posters, infused vinegars, and plenty of Fiasco wine to taste. Pam and David celebrate the fact that their 18 acres of vineyards produce cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, sangiovese, zinfandel, syrah, and a bit of nebbiolo, dolcetto, Malbec, tempranillo, and viognier. This full pallet of varietals gives David and Pam winemaking license to create wines specifically for Fiasco.

Prior to relocating to the Applegate Valley with David, Pam worked as a dental hygienist cleaning teeth. Now, she sees her role as staining teeth — but in the very best way. Her background includes considerable exposure to other wine-growing regions including France, Italy, and Australia. This experience gave her first-hand knowledge on what makes for a memorable winery visit — in addition to her naturally friendly self.

The winery offers picnic tables both inside and out for taking time to enjoy a glass (or two) of wine. In this amiable setting, fiasco is a good thing.