Page 101 - SLO Visitors Guide Summer 2023

Wine Tasting
Experience estate wines at one of Paso’s best kept secrets – Jada Vineyard & Winery
Back-to-back top 100 wines and stunning hospitality areas underscore Jada’s award- winning estate wines
With unsurpassed hospitality, a dedication to sustainability, and award-winning wines, it’s no surprise Jada Vineyard & Winery
is at the top of visitors’ lists when it comes to tasting room experiences in Paso Robles. Situated in one of the top Rhone-producing areas in the region, the 95-acre estate boasts stunning views, with three distinct hillsides dominating the property.
“The breathtaking landscape and the white hills of the Willow Creek District are what attracted us to this area,” said Jada General Manager Joshua Messina. His father, Jack, was the original founder of Jada and has since retired. “With our new hospi- tality and tasting areas, we are able to highlight the beauty that initially drew us here to Paso.”
The Messinas, second-generation Italian immigrants from New York, converted fields of barley to a vine- yard yielding world-class Rhônes and Bordeauxs. Recently, Riboli Family Wines added Jada to their portfolio of organic and sustain- able, small-lot estate vineyards and wineries.
“It’s been a nice marriage of families and cultures,” Messina said. “We were always family-run so that has felt very natural, but the Ribolis bring a powerful 100-year legacy
to our foundation. Both families have always emphasized customer service, and treating our guests and employees like family. We also were thrilled they wanted to continue our tradition of organic farming and estate wines.”
Variety of tasting experiences
Over the past year, the hospi- tality side of the winery has been elevated dramatically.
Tasting experiences
are available at a
range of fees.
Reservations
are recom-
mended,
but
walk-ins
are always
wel-
comed.
“We give very
intimate and
detailed tast-
ing experiences.
Having a knowl-
edgeable team is crucial
to those efforts, and we receive so many compliments about our staff,” Messina said, adding there are two level-one sommeliers on staff. “We also love having the ability to now host some amazing outside events and gatherings.”
The Bowery Garden, situated under the estate’s signature sweeping redwood trees, is ideal for intimate picnics. Small groups of friends will
enjoy exclusive Jada wines by the glass or bottle, curated charcute-
rie platters, and outdoor
games. The
Tree House, an elevated indoor-
outdoor tasting
experience, welcomes
groups of up to six. Enjoy nature
at its finest with views of the vineyards from the heated outdoor deck or
sit inside at the bar with a flight of wine.
The Oak Lounge accommodates up to 50 guests, with a full 17-foot bar, fire pits, bistro seating, and a luxurious lounge area. Enjoy pan-
oramic vineyard views of the valley, vineyard, and oak groves.
The Grove, a true V.I.P. experi- ence, includes a private wine educa- tor, concierge service, and exclusive tasting flights for groups of up to 12 people. Situated in a more intimate and private area of the oak grove, it’s referred to as “the icing on the cake of our hospitality options” by Messina.
The charcuterie options at Jada are unsurpassed, with each item paired with a specific wine. The team works with local and international cheese producers as well as local fruit and nut growers to craft their pairing platters.
Top winemakers & wines
For the second year in a row, a Jada cabernet was selected for Jeb Dunnuck’s annual list of Top 100 Wines including the 2019 WCS Cabernet Sauvignon (98 points). In addition, Jada has continually gar- nered 90+ point scores from Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, and Wine Enthusiast for almost two decades.
“Jeb Dunnuck’s Top 100 is a
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