History

RE:FIND Distillery was founded by Alex & Monica Villicana in Paso Robles and was recognized as Wine Industry Persons of the Year in 2023. The distillery produces handmade spirits from grape/grain to bottle and emphasizes authenticity and transparency in distillation practices and ingredients. They distill for a clean experience without unnecessary filtering and focus on natural ingredients.

The history of RE:FIND is closely tied to Villicana Winery and the desire for sustainability. They use saignée (free juice) from winemaking, which makes it possible to reuse around 60 acres of premium Paso Robles grapes annually. They grow some raw materials themselves and purchase from organic farms, and they perform fermentation, distillation, aging and hand-bottling in-house. They work together with California-family-owned farmers, artisan brewers and boutique vintners to transform their work into well-balanced spirits with natural ingredients and unfiltered bottling.

Production / Manufacturing

Productions take place from grape/grain to bottle with natural ingredients and a strong emphasis on clean fermentation. Saignée (free juice) from wine production is fermented and distilled, and RE:FIND strives to avoid filtration to preserve the spirits' natural character when the raw materials are of high quality and fermentation is clean. Sustainability is central with reuse of byproducts of wine production and handmade production in Paso Robles.

Products / Whisky Series

RE:FIND produces vodka and gin made from grape juice, including cucumber vodka and limoncello and other small batches. In addition, there is a Rye Whiskey – Re:Find Handcrafted Rye Whiskey – and reviews often describe the taste as subtle and complex compared to typical rye whiskies.

Visits / Experiences

Visiting hours are daily from 11:00 to 17:00 with reservations recommended. Tasting options include Wine & Spirits Flight (40 USD, for two people) and Whiskey Flight (40 USD). Club members receive free tasting for up to 4 people and get early notice of limited batch spirits and whiskies. Dogs are welcome on a leash. There is also RE:FIND Guest House for rent at Villicana Winery.

Philosophy

RE:FIND Distillery stands for honest, authentic and transparent distillation. They use natural ingredients and an unfiltered approach to preserve the pure character of the raw materials and fermentation. They cultivate and purchase raw materials from organic farming and collaborate with California-family-owned farmers, artisan brewers and boutique vintners to promote sustainability and reduce waste – from fermentation to bottle.