Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/735024
56 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 { cover story } Team Mentality Riboli Family Wine Estates is truly a family owned business. In addition to the seven Ribolis who work for the winery, they have also fostered a talented team of hardwork - ing and loyal individuals who are practically family. "That's a big part of what we want to do: utilizing a group of people who are passionate about what they're doing and work together as a team," said Riboli. "It's not about one person; it's about a shared vision. That vision of a family and bringing everybody else along." Winemaker Ben Mayo is the newest addition to the team and oversees the new winery in Paso Robles. Yet he and Riboli have worked together for years. Mayo was previously winemaker and par tner at Eberle Winery for 14 years and then GM and winemaker at Rotta Winery before the Ribolis hired him in May of 2016. He fondly told the story of his contract signing at San Antonio Winery. The theme song to The Godfather star ted playing just after he signed the paperwork. He looked at Anthony and said jokingly, "Is this a good thing?" Riboli worked closely with renowned vineyard manager Lee Alegre for many of their vineyard sources prior to plant - ing their estate vineyards. After seeing Alegre's dedication and commitment to the vines, Riboli knew he'd be the perfect par tner to help plant and manage their future estates. His goal has always been to work closely with the winemakers to fine-tune the vineyards to fit their needs for both quality and production. Everyone involved has worked together for many years which has built a lot of trust in the company. "We've all swallowed the Kool-Aid—you kind of have to," Mayo laughed. "This is not a . . ." as he pretends to dip his toe in the water ; "this is a . . ." and he jumps . . . all in. Riboli attributes much of their family's success to his grandmother, Maddalena, and her philosophy: "You've got to be nimble; you've got to take risks; you've got to try different things; and as long as you have more successes than failures, that's the goal." "My grandfather always wanted a winery in wine country, that's how he said it directly to me," said Anthony Riboli, "but when he first saw the concrete poured he said, 'It needs to be bigger.' By the time the walls went up, he changed his mind." The winery is an impressive, state-of-the-art facility designed with efficiency, sustainability and quality in mind. The winery is ready in time for the 2016 harvest but the hospitality center won't be completed until 2017. Newly appointed winemaker Ben Mayo (right) with longtime winemaker Arnaud Debons (left) and Anthony Riboli (center). "The main reason I came on board was the vineyards," says Mayo, reinforcing that the vineyards are really what drives the quality. "That's what really excited me was when Anthony gave me directions to the vineyards and I went out to look at them. I thought, this is serious; this is good stuff."