Page 97 - SLO Visitors Guide - Fall 2024

slovisitorsguide.com FALL 2024 97
Wine Tasting
(805) 237-1425
asuncionridge.com • 180 Bella Ranch Rd. (off of El Pomar)
Walk-ins welcomed!
Open Daily 11am to 5pm.
Reservations recommended for larger parties.
Everyone is welcome
at Jada Vineyard & Winery
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 Or-
ganic 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 sur-
rounded 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
Taste a full portfolio
of wines in a
relaxing, nature-
centric environment
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 consid-
ers 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, de-
scribed 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.
“All of these new wines are mod-
ern in flavor profile,” Hall said. “They
have lovely, natural acidity, they are
crisp, they are bright, and our visitors
are really enjoying them.”
Both red wines, popular among visi-
tors and staff, pay tribute to the Mes-
sina and Riboli families who passed
through Ellis Island when immigrat-
ing 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 hospital-
ity team takes pride in providing
seating areas in the tasting room as
well as several outside seating areas.
House favorites include their
Rhone blend, Hell’s Kitchen, and
Jersey Girl, a Cotie-Rotie style syrah.
Enjoy a welcoming experience from the Jada hospitality team.