Wine from certified organic vineyards.
Taste a full portfolio of wines in a relaxing, nature-centric environment
— When the Riboli Family of Riboli Family Wines added Jada Vineyard and Winery to their portfolio of sustainable, small-lot vineyards and wineries in 2021, Jada General Manager Joshua Messina called the union, “A nice marriage of families and cultures.” Today, as they introduce new vintages and varietals crafted by Head Winemaker Nate Hall, the team at Jada is enthusiastic to welcome visitors and locals to experience their tasting room and 95-acre estate for themselves.
Sustainable and certified organic
Although the winery has been farming organically since 2014, it was with the support and investment of the Riboli Family that the vineyards at Jada were officially certified in 2022 by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). In addition, the winery and tasting room were certified sustainable by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA).
“Our team is very proud of the work we have done in the vineyards,” Messina said. “A lot of our visitors express interest in where and how things are grown. So, it’s nice when people enjoy a glass of wine surrounded by our organically farmed vineyards, where no pesticides or herbicides are used.”
Vineyard-focused winemaking
Hall, who has been part of the team since 2017, was promoted to head winemaker earlier this year. He is the kind of winemaker that “really makes wine in the vineyard,” Fourth generation winemaker Anthony Riboli says, adding Hall is always out in the vineyard strategizing how to make the wines.
“If our wines speak of where they are grown, it’s because Nate is a vineyard-focused winemaker,” Riboli said. “A sensitive winemaker considers the weather, soils, and everything at the beginning of the growing season. He is studying all aspects now so he knows what kind of wine to make later.”
Building on his portfolio of fine wines, Hall added three noteworthy white wines to Jada. The 2023 VIII VIII Chardonnay boasts notes of lemon thyme, citrus, Asian pear, and stone fruit and an abundance of chamomile, jasmine blossoms and white melon.
The 2022 XCV Viognier, described as having refreshing notes of orange blossom, peach, and beeswax with lively bursts of acidity, opening to waves of nectarine, lemon oil, stone, honey, thyme, and lemon zest, is the perfect wine to serve at holiday gatherings. Their newest addition, the 2023 Lotus Eaters Sauvignon Blanc, boasting notes of melon, passion fruit, guava, and pineapple, pairs well with fresh salads, fish, turkey, and barbequed chicken.
Jada Vineyards winemaker Nate Hall.
“All of these new wines are modern in flavor profile,” Hall said. “They have lovely, natural acidity, they are crisp, they are bright, and our visitors are really enjoying them.”
House favorites include their Rhone blend, Hell’s Kitchen, and Jersey Girl, a Cotie-Rotie style syrah. Both red wines, popular among visitors and staff, pay tribute to the Messina and Riboli families who passed through Ellis Island when immigrating to the United States from Italy.
For the third consecutive year, a Jada wine was selected for Jeb Dunnuck’s Top 100 annual list. In addition, Jada has continually garnered 90+ point scores from Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, and Wine Enthusiast for almost two decades.
Nature-centric tasting room and vibe
Focused on portraying a nature-centric and welcoming experience for their guests, the Jada hospitality team takes pride in providing seating areas in the tasting room as well as several outside seating areas. Enjoy gorgeous views overlooking the 300+ olive and fruiting trees, and 20+ acres of oak groves. Take in the fresh air from the Tree House tasting room deck, Bowery Garden, Grove, and Oak Lounge as staff share their knowledge while also respecting the privacy of guests.
The design is intentional to allow guests, especially those visiting from suburban and urban areas, to immerse themselves in the natural world surrounding them at Jada Vineyard.
“It’s not just about the wine,” Messina said. “It’s also about being in nature and returning to that natural environment where people can just let the cares of the world fall away. The vibe is relaxed, and the design is modern with a soft, pleasing palette, all with the intention to have our guests relax while they are here with us.”
Inclusivity is important to the entire Jada team. Messina said it’s all about enjoying time together and being respectful to everyone no matter what their background may be.
“Although our wines are sophisticated, we don’t believe that wine should be pretentious,” Messina said. “We emphasize to everyone that they don’t need to be experts on wine to visit us; they don’t need how to hold the glass right or worry that they may not say the right thing.”
In addition to the outstanding wine offerings at Jada, the charcuterie options and cheese options are unsurpassed, with food items paired with specific wines. The team works with local and international cheese producers as well as local fruit and nut growers to craft their pairing platters.
Future plans
The Jada team is excited to be undergoing a new project involving their first ultra-premium Bourdeaux-inspired cabernet sauvignon wine called Empire. Crafted from their stellar 2013 vintage, this luxury offering is still being aged in the barrel and is set to be released in the next couple of years.
“We are positioning ourselves in the luxury category with this wine, and we are all very excited about it,” Messina said. “We chose the name Empire as a nod to New York, and are hoping it highlights the strength of our in-house cabernet and Bordeaux programs. The Ribolis are really interested in the potential of the Jada Vineyard. Because of its location, it’s very simpatico to certain Rhone and Bourdeaux varieties. They are putting a lot of time and effort into vineyard blocks where the cabernet is grown, and we are eager to see just how good those grapes can be.”
Jada Vineyard & Winery is located at 5620 Vineyard Drive in Paso Robles. Open daily from 11 a.m.-4:45 p.m. For more information visit jadavineyard.com or call (805) 226-4200. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
—Meagan Friberg
