Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/646914
52 / the tasting panel / march 2016 PORTRAIT OF AN INDUSTRY LEADER W hen I was first introduced to Doug Ayres, I was immediately struck not only by what he had built, but also his presence in the space. Ayres is the visionary behind the new Allegretto Vineyard Resort located in the heart of the Paso Robles wine country. Ayres is a fourth-generation Californian whose family made their mark in high-qual- ity property development in California. Ayres father, Don Jr., started the Ayres hotel group in 1984 with the hope of bringing the European-style boutique hotel to California—the unique combination of friendly, personalized service that one would find at a B&B meets the luxury and ambiance of a resort hotel. Doug Ayres had always intended to one day build a destina- tion resort. He spent over a decade searching throughout California for the perfect place. In September 2011, that vision became a reality when they broke ground in Paso Robles. The resort grounds are beyond extraordinary, a blend of Tuscan-style architecture with monastic influences and earthly wonders. Touring the grounds with Ayres, I felt as though I was in an art museum that had been restored into a home (a very big home, but a warm and welcoming place nonetheless). The exhibit is stunning, with many of the pieces sourced from Ayres's personal art collection. As we walked the property, Ayres presence felt more like a docent than an owner, guiding us through what was clearly an enormous feat to create. As a visual anthropology major from the University of Southern California, Ayres travelled the world and immersed himself in many different cultures. His past experiences are clearly and visually reflected in the pieces he curated for his resort. Yet, it's not just the awe-inspiring architecture and collec- tion of fine art that makes this place so impressive. Walking into the library, you're greeted by a giant cross-section of a sequoia tree that dates back to early Roman times. The cross-section, which is practically the length and height of the room, was installed before the building had even been finished. People have started to name it "the heartbeat" of the resort. When asked what the piece meant to him, Ayres said "humility, silence in viewing the creation of nature over the span of time . . . and we are just a blink of the eye." From there, you enter the piazza, a beautiful courtyard with giant, 150-year-old Picholine olive trees. In the center is what appears to be a beautiful granite sculpture, but it's actually a compilation of natural pieces of river stone excavated in China. "I like to call it 'the womb' as it's always giving," said Ayres. The piece, which Ayres calls "the Womb of Creation," is actually quite contemporary in structure, and yet it's a geological wonder with no human hand in the design. The property is filled with life. Along the hillside, Ayres planted eight acres of vineyards to Rhône varieties, Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon, along with ten different varieties of olive trees—he has begun producing both wine and olive oil. Edible flowers, fresh herbs and citrus trees are grown along the edges, and Ayres tended to these as we walked by. It's obvious from a guest perspective that this place is more than just a resort. It's not just about relaxation, it's also meant to inspire creativity, to take you on a journey and cultivate joy. Curator of Joy what he had built, but also his presence in the space. Ayres is the visionary behind Allegretto Vineyard Resort located in the heart of the Paso Robles wine country. Ayres is a fourth-generation Californian whose family made their mark in high-qual- ity property development in California. Ayres father, Don Jr., started the Ayres hotel group in 1984 with the hope of bringing the European-style boutique hotel to California—the unique combination of friendly, personalized service that one would find at a B&B meets the luxury and ambiance of a resort hotel. Doug Ayres had always intended to one day build a destina- tion resort. He spent over a decade searching throughout California for the perfect place. In September 2011, that vision became a reality when they broke ground in Paso Robles. The resort grounds are beyond extraordinary, a blend of Tuscan-style architecture with monastic influences and earthly wonders. Touring the grounds with Ayres, I felt as though I was in an art museum that had been restored into a home (a very big home, but a warm and welcoming place nonetheless). The exhibit is stunning, with many of the pieces sourced from Ayres's personal art collection. As we walked the property, Ayres presence felt more like a docent than an owner, guiding us through what was clearly an enormous feat to create. As a visual anthropology major from the University of Southern California, Ayres travelled the world and immersed himself in many different cultures. His past experiences are clearly and visually reflected in the pieces he curated for his resort. Yet, it's not just the awe-inspiring architecture and collec- tion of fine art that makes this place so impressive. Walking into the library, you're greeted by a giant cross-section of a sequoia tree that dates back to early Roman times. The cross-section, which is practically the length and height of the room, was installed before the building had even been finished. People have started to name it "the heartbeat" of the resort. When asked what the piece meant to him, Ayres said "humility, silence in viewing the creation of nature over the span of time . . . and we are just From there, you enter the piazza, a beautiful courtyard with giant, 150-year-old Picholine olive trees. In the center is what appears to be a beautiful granite sculpture, but it's actually a compilation of natural pieces of river stone excavated in China. "I like to call it 'the womb' as it's always giving," said Ayres. The piece, which Ayres calls "the Womb of Creation," is actually quite contemporary in structure, and yet it's a geological wonder with no The property is filled with life. Along the hillside, Ayres planted eight acres of vineyards to Rhône varieties, Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon, along with ten different varieties of olive trees—he has begun producing both wine and olive oil. Edible flowers, fresh herbs and citrus trees are grown along the edges, and Ayres tended to these as we walked by. It's obvious from a guest perspective that this place is more than just a resort. It's not just about relaxation, it's also meant to inspire creativity, to take you DOUG AYRES'S ALLEGRETTO VINEYARD RESORT COMES TO PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY by Michelle Ball / photos by Jeremy Ball Doug Ayres is a hotelier with vision.