Barrel Riot Wines, as suggested by its name, has the objective to cause a significant change in the wine market.

Located in Poway, this wine manufacturer achieves its aim by creating unconventional wines imbued with the distinctive zest and aroma of rum, bourbon, and tequila.

In the 2020 San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge, it gained critical acclaim for its exquisite Tequila Barrel-Aged Orange Muscat, which won the Gold, and the Bourbon Barrel-Aged Cabernet Sauvignon that secured a Silver.

“All the wines I create aim to inject a bit more excitement into an industry that has largely remained conventional for centuries,” says Dan Lipsky, the 50-year-old owner of Barrel Riot Wines. The grapes for his wines are sourced from some of the most renowned vineyards in Temecula, Warner Springs, and Napa Valley.

“I’m not a farmer and I have no desire to be a farmer,” he said. “I’m definitely not one of those wine guys that wants to retire on a vineyard and take care of grapes. I’m more cutting-edge, wanting to create unique, fun products that will entice other drinkers than traditional wine drinkers.”

He compared his enterprise to the craft beer industry and brewers who age their beer in barrels that once contained bourbon or other spirits.

The home-brewer says his target market is bourbon, scotch, whiskey, tequila, rum and beer drinkers, who he wants to introduce to the wine product.

Lipsky ages his wines for roughly three to six months in barrels that were formerly used to age bourbon, rum or tequila.

Four years ago, at the start of production, barrels were obtained from Cutwater Spirits in San Diego. However, when Cutwater ceased their supply, barrels began being imported from the East Coast, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Tequila barrels are sourced directly from Tequila, Mexico, specifically in the state of Jalisco.

A portion of the aging process happens at his residence on Midland Road, while other wines are aged in Warner Springs, positioned to the east of Temecula.

Lipsky states that Barrel Riot Wines is among a select few companies in the sector that are primarily dedicated to rum-, tequila-, and bourbon-enhanced wines. Their product list includes 16 wines, such as Tequila Barrel-Aged Zinfandel, Spirit Barrel-Aged Merlot, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Cabernet Sauvignon, and Rum Barrel-Aged Grenache.

Last year concluded with a significant achievement when Total Wine & More, a wholesaler, consented to market his Tequila Barrel-Aged Orange Muscat. This varietal is currently distributed to 22 locations in Southern California.

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<p>Several Barrel Riot wines are also sold at Smokin’ J’s BBQ, which has a location in Poway on Midland Road.</p>
<p>Smokin’ J’s BBQ co-owner Josh George said two of his restaurants, in Poway and downtown San Diego, sell Barrel Riot’s wines in 200 milliliter bottles for $15 and 750 milliliter bottles for $45. The larger bottles include the Orange Muscat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Zinfandel and a red blend, and the smaller bottles are available in most of Barrel Riot’s varieties.</p>
<p>George said he likes the uniqueness of the aging process, and the wines pair nicely with the barbecue meals they serve. He also thought it would be nice to support another Poway business, he said.</p>
<p>Demand for the wines is starting to pick up steam, especially in Poway, George added.</p>

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“It’s a unique offering for a restaurant, which we really like,” he said. “It helps differentiate ourselves and it helps that it goes along nicely with the food.”

The wine is also sold at the Farmers Market at Welk Resort in Escondido on Mondays and at the Poway Farmers Market Saturdays near Old Poway Park.

Lipsky, a Poway resident since 2014, worked in the tech industry until he got burned out from sitting in front of a computer all day. He began to take some of the skills he used in software development while working in software configuration management and applied them to his winemaking craft.

When his dabbling turned serious, he began partnering with Mission Cellars urban winery and tasting room, also on Midland Road. Although the partnership fizzled, Lipsky continued to hone his spirit aging process.

“I don’t fortify the wines. I don’t pour any rum, bourbon or tequila in the wine,” he said. “I simply use barrels that have aged alcohol before. The flavor of the wood seeps into the wine and creates that flavor.”

Barrel Riot’s private outdoor tasting room at the home of Lipsky and his wife, April Lipsky, is at 13625 Midland Road. Reservations are required through the BarrelRiot.com website to use the outdoor space with complimentary firepits and music, Lipsky said.

The tasting patio, which can fit about 100 people, has been used as a Casino Night fundraiser for the Poway wrestling team and as a meet-and-greet venue for the Poway Chamber of Commerce’s nonprofit meeting, Lipsky said.

Along with supporting community events and promoting his business, Lipsky is eager to share his story of disruption.

“Even the logo on the bottles shows a little bit of a story of how the barrels were created,” he said. “The logo has a barrel with flames coming out. That’s how they prepare the spirit barrels. Before they put a spirit in the barrel they char the inside of the barrel. It looks like a barrel with flames coming out of it.”