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Expand All Your Senses at Vina Robles Winery and AmphitheatreFrom the complex soils to the world-class music, California culture has never been more appropriately available in one spot.
Photos courtesy of Vina Robles
The gorgeous Vina Robles Amplitheatre does not have a bad seat in the house--all are within 150 feet from the stage.
“ Last year marked the inaugural year for The Vina Robles Amphitheatre. The 2013 season headliner acts included artists like ZZ Top, Bonnie Raitt, and Peter Frampton.”
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Set on an oak-dotted hillside in eastern Paso Robles, California, Vina Robles epitomizes the stylistic bridge between old and new-world winemaking. The distinctive winery was the brainchild of Hans Nef, a Swiss entrepreneur, engineer, and developer who always had a passion for wine. His passion led him from collecting fine Bordeaux, to importing select wines to Switzerland, then partnering with another Hans, Hans-R. Michel. They co-founded Vina Robles in 1996.
From its earliest days, Vina Robles has created ultra premium wines from its estate vineyards to distribute worldwide. To this day, the winery remains family-owned and operated, and strongly dedicated to its European heritage. The grapes are grown and harvested in five estate vineyards. The wines exhibit the bold, natural flavors the world has come to expect from Paso Robles along with the finesse associated with wines made in Europe. Vina Robles wines are crafted in a food-friendly, balanced, and elegant style.
"We specialize in varieties that excel in the complex soils and nuanced microclimates of Paso Robles," Winemaker Kevin Willenborg says. "We also practice the unwritten Paso Robles winemaker tradition of crafting unconventional blends." Kevin began his winemaking career in the New World as a student at UC-Davis, and then interned at Château Petrus in the Bordeaux region of France. After stints in the Napa Valley, Sonoma, British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, as well as California’s Central Coast, he was hired to lead the winemaking program at Vina Robles in 2012.
Besides exceptional European-inspired wines with California character, Vina Robles offers visitors the finest wine country experience. Since the 14,000-square-foot Vina Robles Hospitality Center first opened in 2007, it has been at the top of the discerning wine tourist’s list in Paso Robles. Its elegant, yet understated architecture says it all—it’s a perfect blend of classic California and modern Europe. Guests are greeted warmly and given an exciting list of tasting options. At the tasting bar, they can choose between several menus including an Estate tasting and a Reserve tasting of the winery’s Cuvée Collection. They can also opt for a seated, private wine and cheese pairing showcasing up to six artisan cheeses matched with special release wines, or a sampling of five select wines followed by a special gourmet lunch and a glass of their favorite wine on the patio all before 6pm. Engaging group opportunities like an estate vineyard tour or blending competition can also be planned in advance.
With its inaugural season in 2013, The Vina Robles Amphitheatre is already a popular venue for con- cert goers and performing artists alike. The first two seasons featured many headliner acts, including Crosby, Stills & Nash, Bonnie Raitt, and John Fogerty. The 2015 season, which runs from May through November, promises to be equally exciting. Besides tiered seating, fixed seats, VIP boxes, and a general admission lawn area, the amphitheatre is designed so no seat is more than 150 feet from the stage. More information and the 2015 calendar is listed on the winery’s website.
With each visit, whether it’s for a tasting, concert, wedding or other event, guests can expect to be treated graciously as they enjoy the balanced and elegant European-style wines of Vina Robles.
AN INTERVIEW WITH WINEMAKER KEVIN WILLENBORG
T&T: Why does Vina Robles have five separate estate vineyards?
KW: Paso Robles is a very broad appellation, and our estate vineyards are far enough apart within the Paso appellation to offer different attributes. So we can showcase unique vineyard designates like our Petite Sirah-Creston Valley Vineyard, which is rich and fruit forward with layers of creamy yet structured tannins. Or our Cabernet Sauvignon-Estate, where we feature a blend from our estate vineyards, creating a distinctive wine while balancing out the aromas, flavors, fruit expression, and mouthfeel.
T&T: Vina Robles has a fine reputation for producing European wines with California character. Is this a difficult thing to do?
KW: Our motto is "European Inspiration, California Character." We are not producing European wines, per se, but rather employing traditional techniques that start in the vineyard, carry through into the winemaking, and extend to the experience when you visit us. Paso produces very bold, expressive fruit characters that are unique and somewhat different than Europe. By balancing the vine and employing some tried and true traditional winemaking techniques, we can achieve a wine that reflects the terroir of Paso, yet the balance, age-worthy structure, and finesse associated with some of the best wines of Europe.
T&T: You practice "the unwritten Paso Robles winemaker tradition of crafting unconventional blends." Please tell us more!
KW: In the Old World, there are many restrictions on which varieties can be blended together, depending on the region of origin. However, here in Paso Robles, we are unconstrained by tradition, and more and more wineries are pushing the envelope with unconventional blends. The purpose of blending different varieties is to create a distinctive wine while balancing out the aromas, flavors, fruit expression, and mouthfeel. Our blends, especially the WHITE4 (Viognier, Vermentino, Verdelho, and Sauvignon Blanc), are really unusual and give us a certain creative expression. At the same time, you have to make sure you are not mixing varieties just because you can. A good blend still has to have a purpose and be harmonious. With red wines, additional factors such as tannin level, come into play. If I have a vision for the blend, that’s my road map. I guess you could say that at Vina Robles, we are observing tradition as well as creating our own.
What to Buy
'13 WHITE4 - $16
Peach, mango, citrus, ginger
'11 Petite Sirah - $29
Black cherry pie with hints of caramel
'10 Suendero - $49
Cassis, light roasted almonds, licorice, mocha, hint of black fruit
Special Notes
Food pairing experiences, amphitheatre, weddings and receptions, sustainable farming practices, corporate events.
Contact
3700 Mill Rd.
Paso Robles, CA 93446
Phone: 805-227-4812
E-mail: info@vinarobles.com
Website: vinarobles.com
Vina Robles Amphitheatre
3800 Mill Road, off Highway 46E
Paso Robles, CA
Phone: 805-286-3680
Website: vinaroblesamphitheatre.com
Tasting Room: Open Daily 10am-6pm
Touring & Tasting is a media company that produces a wine and travel magazine and is also partner in the Hitched Wine Club.
From its earliest days, Vina Robles has created ultra premium wines from its estate vineyards to distribute worldwide. To this day, the winery remains family-owned and operated, and strongly dedicated to its European heritage. The grapes are grown and harvested in five estate vineyards. The wines exhibit the bold, natural flavors the world has come to expect from Paso Robles along with the finesse associated with wines made in Europe. Vina Robles wines are crafted in a food-friendly, balanced, and elegant style.
"We specialize in varieties that excel in the complex soils and nuanced microclimates of Paso Robles," Winemaker Kevin Willenborg says. "We also practice the unwritten Paso Robles winemaker tradition of crafting unconventional blends." Kevin began his winemaking career in the New World as a student at UC-Davis, and then interned at Château Petrus in the Bordeaux region of France. After stints in the Napa Valley, Sonoma, British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, as well as California’s Central Coast, he was hired to lead the winemaking program at Vina Robles in 2012.
Besides exceptional European-inspired wines with California character, Vina Robles offers visitors the finest wine country experience. Since the 14,000-square-foot Vina Robles Hospitality Center first opened in 2007, it has been at the top of the discerning wine tourist’s list in Paso Robles. Its elegant, yet understated architecture says it all—it’s a perfect blend of classic California and modern Europe. Guests are greeted warmly and given an exciting list of tasting options. At the tasting bar, they can choose between several menus including an Estate tasting and a Reserve tasting of the winery’s Cuvée Collection. They can also opt for a seated, private wine and cheese pairing showcasing up to six artisan cheeses matched with special release wines, or a sampling of five select wines followed by a special gourmet lunch and a glass of their favorite wine on the patio all before 6pm. Engaging group opportunities like an estate vineyard tour or blending competition can also be planned in advance.
With its inaugural season in 2013, The Vina Robles Amphitheatre is already a popular venue for con- cert goers and performing artists alike. The first two seasons featured many headliner acts, including Crosby, Stills & Nash, Bonnie Raitt, and John Fogerty. The 2015 season, which runs from May through November, promises to be equally exciting. Besides tiered seating, fixed seats, VIP boxes, and a general admission lawn area, the amphitheatre is designed so no seat is more than 150 feet from the stage. More information and the 2015 calendar is listed on the winery’s website.
With each visit, whether it’s for a tasting, concert, wedding or other event, guests can expect to be treated graciously as they enjoy the balanced and elegant European-style wines of Vina Robles.
AN INTERVIEW WITH WINEMAKER KEVIN WILLENBORGT&T: Why does Vina Robles have five separate estate vineyards?
KW: Paso Robles is a very broad appellation, and our estate vineyards are far enough apart within the Paso appellation to offer different attributes. So we can showcase unique vineyard designates like our Petite Sirah-Creston Valley Vineyard, which is rich and fruit forward with layers of creamy yet structured tannins. Or our Cabernet Sauvignon-Estate, where we feature a blend from our estate vineyards, creating a distinctive wine while balancing out the aromas, flavors, fruit expression, and mouthfeel.
T&T: Vina Robles has a fine reputation for producing European wines with California character. Is this a difficult thing to do?
KW: Our motto is "European Inspiration, California Character." We are not producing European wines, per se, but rather employing traditional techniques that start in the vineyard, carry through into the winemaking, and extend to the experience when you visit us. Paso produces very bold, expressive fruit characters that are unique and somewhat different than Europe. By balancing the vine and employing some tried and true traditional winemaking techniques, we can achieve a wine that reflects the terroir of Paso, yet the balance, age-worthy structure, and finesse associated with some of the best wines of Europe.
T&T: You practice "the unwritten Paso Robles winemaker tradition of crafting unconventional blends." Please tell us more!
KW: In the Old World, there are many restrictions on which varieties can be blended together, depending on the region of origin. However, here in Paso Robles, we are unconstrained by tradition, and more and more wineries are pushing the envelope with unconventional blends. The purpose of blending different varieties is to create a distinctive wine while balancing out the aromas, flavors, fruit expression, and mouthfeel. Our blends, especially the WHITE4 (Viognier, Vermentino, Verdelho, and Sauvignon Blanc), are really unusual and give us a certain creative expression. At the same time, you have to make sure you are not mixing varieties just because you can. A good blend still has to have a purpose and be harmonious. With red wines, additional factors such as tannin level, come into play. If I have a vision for the blend, that’s my road map. I guess you could say that at Vina Robles, we are observing tradition as well as creating our own.
What to Buy'13 WHITE4 - $16
Peach, mango, citrus, ginger
'11 Petite Sirah - $29
Black cherry pie with hints of caramel
'10 Suendero - $49
Cassis, light roasted almonds, licorice, mocha, hint of black fruit
Special Notes
Food pairing experiences, amphitheatre, weddings and receptions, sustainable farming practices, corporate events.
Contact
3700 Mill Rd.
Paso Robles, CA 93446
Phone: 805-227-4812
E-mail: info@vinarobles.com
Website: vinarobles.com
Vina Robles Amphitheatre
3800 Mill Road, off Highway 46E
Paso Robles, CA
Phone: 805-286-3680
Website: vinaroblesamphitheatre.com
Tasting Room: Open Daily 10am-6pm
Touring & Tasting is a media company that produces a wine and travel magazine and is also partner in the Hitched Wine Club.
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