Page 92 - San Luis Obispo Visitors Guide - Spring 2023

Wine Tasting
Find extraordinary hospitality at Rava Wines
Family owned and operated winery tasting room voted USA Today Top 10 Best
Exceptional wines, extraordi- nary hospitality, and extensive views of the surrounding hills and vineyards await visitors to the Rava Wines tasting room in Paso Robles. Located in the El Pomar District, a sub-appellation of the Paso Robles AVA, this family-friendly, award- winning tasting room showcases the wines and welcoming spirit of
Chad and Lauren Rava.
As third-generation farmers,
Chad and Lauren take a different
approach to growing grapes and producing wine. Their son, Sterling, is on his 12th vintage, while daugh- ter, Jade is on her ninth as fourth generation farmers.
“We recognize our responsi- bility to our children and future generations,” Lauren said. “They are the driving force behind us taking a minimalistic approach to produc- ing a good product and having the time to enjoy it.”
Sustainability in Practice
In addition to looking out
for their children’s future, Chad’s cancer diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2013 had a dramatic effect on the way they farm the land and also led them to pursue
a Sustainability in Practice (SIP) certification for their vineyards and winery.
Certification addresses the “three p’s of sustainability” – peo- ple, planet, prosperity – to ensure natural and human resources are protected; practices the Ravas had been implementing for more than a decade before becoming officially certified.
As they continue to celebrate Chad’s recovery, the Ravas regularly host fundraising events for Sabes Wings and The Cancer Support Community.
The wines & the makers
Winemakers John Clark and Sherrie Holzer work alongside Chad to bring a mixture of cre- ativity and fun to their working relationship. As the newest member of the Rava team, Holzer has been integral to bringing new ideas to the mix. With her experienced pal- ate, she is passionate about pairing wines with foods.
Crafting their sparkling wines in the traditional méthode champe- noise style, the Rava team produces 11 sparkling varietals. Many of the small lots are offered exclusively
to their wine club, The Sparkling Society.
Included among those offerings are classic sparkling wine styles Blanc de Noirs and Blanc de Blancs, more unique and rare varietals such as their Muscat, and the Sparkling Gruner Veltliner – a favorite of Holzer’s.
“This wine really showcases
the vineyard where it comes from, expressing a minerality from the limestone soil and natural acidity that is the backbone of the wine,” she said. “I love the freshness of the aromatics that make me think of a beautiful, spring day: green apple, blooming jasmine, Asian pear, and fresh-cut grass.”
Still wine offerings include the award-winning 100% Estate Cab- ernet Sauvignon. Clark particularly favors the Sparkling Blanc de Noir made from pristine Monterey Pinot Noir grapes hand-harvested at the peak of perfection.
“The winery has precise tem- perature control from pre-chilling fruit, fermentation, and bulk stor- age, storage of bottles en tirage to disgorging; one of the hallmarks of quality,” Clark said.
Although selections of Rava wines are available at local restau- rants, sales are conducted primarily direct-to-consumer through the tasting room.
“Our guests tend to look for
Walk-ins welcomed!
Open Daily 11am to 5pm.
Reservations recommended for larger parties.
(805) 237-1425
asuncionridge.com • 1525 Peachy Canyon Rd., Paso Robles
92 SPRING 2023
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