On the Rise
(Micah Econin is a certified
natural Chef and Nutrition Educator.Through his
business, The Educated Vegetable, he offers personal
chef services, nutrition consultations and cooking classes. Send questions or
comments to micah@educatedvegetable.com
I’ve spent
the last year wondering what sort of winery was going to arise out of the
massive construction project just off of Highway 154 at Roblar
Road. Just months ago, the beautiful architecture that I’ve watched slowly grow
opened its doors and people are already talking about the exciting new winery.
Roblar Winery and Vineyards is
not only producing high quality Central Coast wines, but they are putting much
effort into promoting the marriage of wine with food.
Roblar offers
much more than basic wine tasting and sales. Its fulltime chef creates dishes
to compliment the vineyards’ wine offerings. Currently they are offering an
assortment of paninis,
salads and cheese platters. Tasters can even call ahead to have food ready upon
their arrival. Even better, Roblar has created an
exclusive tasting lounge for wine club members. Outfitted with leather couches,
a gorgeous wood bar and adjoining sun deck, I wasn’t surprised to see dozens of
members enjoying themselves during my recent visit.
For aspiring home cooks, Roblar
also offers weekly cooking classes in their on-site kitchen. Each week a
different local chef teaches the class, which is followed by a luxurious dinner
in Roblar’s adjoining barrel room. Recent classes
have included French, Moroccan and Brazilian cuisines. A calendar of scheduled
offerings can be found on the website, www.roblarwinery.com.
Like any new
winery, Roblar currently has a limited selection of
wines for sale. As the winery becomes more grounded in its new home, I’m sure
that they will begin to experiment with more and more wines. Either way, this
wine enthusiast and foodie is very impressed by their vision and looks forward
to seeing it continue to grow.
05 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, Estate
This extremely refreshing wine is a blend of 80 percent
Sauvignon Blanc and 20 percent Semillon. Soft on the palate, the minerality is the highlight here. Pear aromatics are
followed by a crisp and clean finish.
05 Semillon, Santa Ynez
Valley
Actually a blend of 80 percent Semillon and 20 percent
Sauvignon Blanc, this wine is surprisingly full bodied for a white wine. Its
good acid lingers on the palate with a lemon zest flavor that snuck up on me
every time I took a sip.
04 Syrah, Santa Ynez
Valley
This wine felt a little tight to me. A bit of a decant
should help improve its tobacco and vanilla filled nose and its jammy-tart cherry flavors
04 Syrah, Great Oaks
Good toast notes, but still strong fruit. Much more
refined than the Santa Ynez Valley Syrah, the Great
Oaks Syrah’s tannins are not abrasive at all. They
gently usher the red fruit flavors across the palette.
01 Cabernet Franc, Santa Ynez
Valley
Aged in 100 percent new oak, this big wines' nose is
smoky and intoxicating. Lip–smacking tannins accompany plum flavors.
Roblar Winery and Vineyard is located at 3010 Roblar Ave. in Santa Ynez. Lunches are served from 11 a.m. till 3 p.m.
Wednesday through Sunday. The tasting room is open everyday
from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m.