Pairing great wine, food, and friends.

Generations of excellence and timeless hospitality at the Paso Robles tasting room, bistro, and gift shop

—It’s always a great time to visit Paso Robles and the surrounding areas, but there’s just something about summer that makes this time of year even more special. And there’s no better destination to visit than the beautiful and conveniently located bistro at the Riboli Family of San Antonio Winery.

Family-owned, with the third and fourth generations currently overseeing the everyday operations, it’s one of the most highly awarded wineries in California. And the Paso Robles tasting room? With outdoor patio seating, an indoor bistro, and the gift shop, this is the place to be! The décor is stunning, timeless, and elegant, and yet the ambiance throughout is warm, approachable, and inviting.

“We’ve always specialized in the consumer, and our approach is very comfortable yet educational. We want people to learn,” fourth-generation winemaker Anthony Riboli said. “We want everyone to feel welcomed, and that’s why we offer many styles and types of wines, from a big, bold cabernet to a light sparkling semi-sweet wine. Our selection, our ability to please all different palates, sets us apart. The bottom line is that we want our guests to feel comfortable and have a great time. That’s our philosophy – it’s been our philosophy for 108 years, and it will continue to be our philosophy.”

Invested in the Paso Robles area for more than three decades, the community is important to the Riboli Family. The many accomplishments for their vineyards and winery include organic vineyard certifications for Jada Winery and Vineyard and sustainable vineyard and winery certifications through the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.

“We are all about being good neighbors, using water wisely, and being part of the Paso Robles community, Riboli said. “This is our second home, and the longer we’ve been involved in the area, the more we’ve invested not only in resources but our time.”

The Riboli sense of community originates with founder Santo Cambianica, who started San Antonio Winery in Los Angeles more than 108 years ago. His nephew Stefano Riboli and his bride, Maddalena, later owned the winery and passed the family work ethic on to their three children – Santo, Cathy, and Steve. Today, the fourth generation includes Anthony Riboli (head winemaker), Chris Riboli, Dante Riboli Colombatti, Jennifer Riboli Converse, Blake Anderson, and David Riboli, who hold various positions within the company. Stefano and Maddalena have both passed on, leaving a legacy that will endure for several more generations.

“Stefano was our family patriarch, and we raise a toast to his 97 years of a great life,” Riboli said. “We all miss him, but we are honored to carry on his incredible legacy.” Maddalena passed away shortly after her 102nd birthday.

The science and art of winemaking

As a winemaker, Anthony Riboli puts a lot of heart and history into every batch of wine he produces.

“What I’ve always loved about winemaking is the combination of science and art,” he said. “That combination is what got me hooked. Every winemaker has a different approach, just like a painter or sculptor, and I find that to be truly amazing.”

Riboli, a former pre-med student, works alongside winemaker Marty Spate. The Riboli Family estate vineyards in Paso Robles include Maddalena, Stefano, Stefano II, and Pretty Penny vineyards in the El Pomar District AVA, Creston Highlands and Riboli Creston vineyards in the Creston District AVA, and newly acquired Jada Vineyards and Winery and Riboli Willow Creek vineyard(AL in the Willow Creek District AVA. They also have four vineyard properties in the Arroyo Seco and Santa Lucia Highlands AVAs of Monterey and the Rutherford appellation of Napa Valley.

“What I like most about having our own vineyards is learning about the individual vineyards each year,” he said. “I can have a better experiential factor in the winemaking, which I believe is important. The longer we work with these vineyards, the more we know them, and that’s really exciting.”

Wine pairings

Riboli shared tips on pairing his family wines with a variety of popular food items.

“My go-to wine is our San Simeon Pinot Noir. Whether served with turkey, ham, prime rib, or salmon, it’s just so versatile,” Riboli said. “For people who want a bigger, bolder red wine with prime rib, the San Simeon Cabernet Sauvignon is fantastic. The Opaque Darkness, our red blend, is so smooth on the palate.”

Lighter foods and appetizers pair with the San Simeon Sauvignon Blanc, according to Riboli, so be sure to pick up a few bottles of this bright, refreshing wine.

“Rosé is very popular right now, and there’s a lot of flexibility to pair these wines with many different foods,” Riboli said. “Our Maddalena Rosé is a nice blend, and our San Simeon Grenache Rosé is quite popular. Both of these wines go well with shrimp and other appetizers, and lighter entrees, including salmon and turkey. Our La Quinta Syrah Port is just fantastic with a flourless chocolate cake,” he said. “The sparkling red, semi-sweet Stella Rosa Rosso Lux, from our Italian import label, is a blend of barbera and brachetto, and just an incredible dessert wine. If your palate likes a sweeter style of wine, it also pairs well with turkey, ham, and lighter dishes.”

Visit the Riboli Family of San Antonio Winery tasting room in Paso Robles at 2610 Buena Vista Drive, just off Highway 46 East; open Sun-Fri 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sat 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information visit www.sanantoniowinery.com or call (805) 226-2600.

–Meagan Friberg