Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/833814
88 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } JUNE/JULY 2017 In addition to its winemaking efficiency, the facility aims to ensure conservation of the region's most precious resource: water. All winery waste water is treated and used for landscaping and vineyard irrigation. Nothing is wasted. "We're a part of the community here, and it's about how to continue to make Paso great," shares Riboli. The family is also adding a new roof solar array which will produce 85+% of the winery's electrical power. The sommeliers tasted barrel samples from the first vintage made at the new facility and the new Stefano Vineyard site: 2016 Malbec and 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon. The young wines showed great potential despite their primary state. The Malbec was quite lush with blue and purple fruit, hints of tar and balancing acid - ity on the finish. A Stellar New Facility from Storied SAN ANTONIO WINERY The Riboli family of San Antonio Winery is now in their fourth generation of winemaking. This year, the Riboli fam- ily is celebrating the 100-year anniversary of San Antonio Winery, which was established in Los Angeles in 1917. Over the years, the family has expanded its sources throughout California, including Napa Valley, Monterey County and Paso Robles. Having sourced fruit from Paso Robles since the 1980s, the Ribolis made a major commitment in developing five estate vineyards and constructing a new, state-of-the- art winemaking facility in the region—all in the last five years. Their long-term vision: to finally have full control over every aspect of the winemaking process from the vineyard to the bottle. Anthony Riboli, fourth generation and the first formally trained winemaker in the family, hosted the sommeliers for our final luncheon and led a tour of the new 90,000-square- foot winery. "We designed the facility for flexibility," explained Riboli as we walked through the tank room. The efficient space allows for a small team to operate a vast number of lots, from small, open-top fermenters to tanks that hold everything from five- to 35-ton lots. Each tank has a pump-over system built in, along with both heating and cooling capabilities, allowing the winery to produce a wide variety of wines at many different price points. The Riboli family's decades of experience working with vineyards throughout Paso Robles helped determine the ideal sites for their future estate wines. "Now, this is a beautiful, shiny facility, but I'll be very honest, we know the vineyards are what makes great wine. This is just continuing that and making sure we don't screw it up," explained Riboli. Fred Dame, MS, and San Antonio Winery's Anthony Riboli. San Simeon Stormwatch, from San Antonio Winery, utilizes all five Bordeaux varieties.