Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/793596
64 / the tasting panel / march 2017 and worked together to improve the quality of wines at the winery. The Ribolis expanded to the Paso Robles area for their Bordeaux and Rhône grapes, contracting with many different vineyards over the next several years. During this time, they gained knowledge and experience in the region, fine tuning what they were looking for in an estate property. In the last five years, the family made major investments in both the El Pomar District and the Creston District of Paso Robles. They had been working for many years in El Pomar and really enjoyed the quality of fruit and flavor profiles from the region. Pretty Penny Vineyard, now an estate property, is one that the Ribolis had been work- ing with since it was planted in 2000. The site is characterized by extreme conditions, steep slopes, elevated winds and high elevation. The AVA is located southeast of the city Paso Robles and enjoys warm daytime temperatures during the growing season along with significant marine influence due to the Templeton Gap. Winds pick up in the afternoon and cool down dramatically in the evening, creating 50 degree temperature shifts. Their other two estate properties, Stefano Vineyard and Maddalena Vineyard, are located across from one another only a mile apart. Undulating slopes characterize both sites, but each property has uniquely different soil types. Rocky, well-drained Arbuckle-Positas makes up the soil profile of the Stefano Vineyard, while highly calcareous Linne Calodo soil at the Maddalena Vineyard holds more water, allowing for less irrigation. The first harvest at Maddalena will occur this year, while Stefano went into production in 2015. Creston is a new region for San Antonio Winery, and as Riboli puts it, "It's kind of like the wild, wild west of Paso." The region is a bit further east and characterized by well-developed terraces, sandy loam and clay soils. It also sits over a very large aquifer. "That was one reason that really drew us to our site: really good quality and quantity of water," says Riboli. They've improved the health of the existing vineyard and added new, eight-foot by four-foot plantings. The property is large with enormous potential, and the land has been prepared carefully, leaving perfectly trimmed oak trees, in preparation of future plantings. COVER STORY Stefano and Maddalena Riboli celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last year. "When you look at all the challenges they had, they always stuck together," says Santo Riboli, their eldest son. "They really are the perfect companions." " " NEVER STOP TRYING NEW THINGS, EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TELL YOU YOU'RE CRAZY.