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- Chris Boiling
- 2025-02-25
California winery Vina Robles – now part of Courtney M Benham (CMB) Family of Wines, a group known for revitalising legacy brands – has opened a stunning 20,000sq ft tasting room.
The distinctive-looking venue at 1650 Ramada Drive, just off Highway 101 at the gateway to the 46 West wine trail, combines modern industrial design with the sophistication and warmth of a Paso Robles wine country tasting room.
The space features a large central tasting bar, intimate seating areas, a dramatic communal table crafted from reclaimed wine barrels and materials, and a retractable garage door that opens for an indoor-outdoor flow.
The tasting room is designed not only as a space for sampling Vina Robles’ wines but also as a vibrant hub for the local community, with a variety of tasting experiences offered, from casual to celebratory.
Live music, special events, and social gatherings are planned throughout the year.
As an initial offering, guests can enjoy throwback $5 ‘belly-up-to-the-bar’ tastings that honour the region’s early wine tourism days.
In addition to Vina Robles wines, the tasting room will showcase selections from the CMB Family of Wines portfolio, including the brands Martin Ray, Angeline, Synthesis, Courtney Benham, and the newly acquired Foppiano.
A wood-fired pizza oven imported from Italy complements the offer. A culinary partner will be announced soon, promising “authentic, flavourful pairings”.
As well as working with selected family-owned grower partners such as Dutton Ranch and Ritchie Vineyard, Renaud plans to introduce new vineyard sources from the most iconic locations in California’s Central Coast.
She is joined by CMB winemaker Raemy Paterson, whose CV includes France (Bordeaux and Provence), Australia (Barossa Valley), and California (Russian River Valley).
Vina Robles was founded in 1998 by Swiss entrepreneur Hans Nef, who died in a swimming accident in Cape Verde in 2019. Courtney Benham (above) purchased it in September 2024. The acquisition included the trademark, inventory, barrels, and intellectual property, but not the hospitality centre or the Vina Robles Amphitheatre.
Vina Robles, however, will continue to be the exclusive wine partner of the VRA 2025 Concert Season, which will also feature wines from other labels in the CMB portfolio. And wine club members will continue to enjoy VIP access to amphitheatre events, early concert ticket sales, and the Terrace Club Experience, which offers a dedicated entrance and exclusive patio access shared with season pass and box holders.
The tasting room is open daily from 11am to 5pm.
Courtney, a California native, commented: “Our goal is to uphold the incredible legacy here while also embracing the future – whether that’s through our refreshed urban tasting room or our commitment to crafting wines of the highest quality that reflect both tradition and innovation.”
The distinctive-looking venue at 1650 Ramada Drive, just off Highway 101 at the gateway to the 46 West wine trail, combines modern industrial design with the sophistication and warmth of a Paso Robles wine country tasting room.
The space features a large central tasting bar, intimate seating areas, a dramatic communal table crafted from reclaimed wine barrels and materials, and a retractable garage door that opens for an indoor-outdoor flow.
The tasting room is designed not only as a space for sampling Vina Robles’ wines but also as a vibrant hub for the local community, with a variety of tasting experiences offered, from casual to celebratory.
Live music, special events, and social gatherings are planned throughout the year.
As an initial offering, guests can enjoy throwback $5 ‘belly-up-to-the-bar’ tastings that honour the region’s early wine tourism days.
In addition to Vina Robles wines, the tasting room will showcase selections from the CMB Family of Wines portfolio, including the brands Martin Ray, Angeline, Synthesis, Courtney Benham, and the newly acquired Foppiano.
A wood-fired pizza oven imported from Italy complements the offer. A culinary partner will be announced soon, promising “authentic, flavourful pairings”.
The winemaker
The Vina Robles wines are now the responsibility of Leslie Renaud, director of winemaking for CMB Family of Wines. A highly regarded winemaker with a decade of experience on the Central Coast, Renaud began her career in the late 1990s, playing a key role in crafting critically acclaimed wines at Talley Vineyards and launching the Bishop’s Peak label. She later worked in Sonoma County and the Santa Cruz Mountains before joining CMB in 2019.As well as working with selected family-owned grower partners such as Dutton Ranch and Ritchie Vineyard, Renaud plans to introduce new vineyard sources from the most iconic locations in California’s Central Coast.
She is joined by CMB winemaker Raemy Paterson, whose CV includes France (Bordeaux and Provence), Australia (Barossa Valley), and California (Russian River Valley).
The owner
Vina Robles was founded in 1998 by Swiss entrepreneur Hans Nef, who died in a swimming accident in Cape Verde in 2019. Courtney Benham (above) purchased it in September 2024. The acquisition included the trademark, inventory, barrels, and intellectual property, but not the hospitality centre or the Vina Robles Amphitheatre.
Vina Robles, however, will continue to be the exclusive wine partner of the VRA 2025 Concert Season, which will also feature wines from other labels in the CMB portfolio. And wine club members will continue to enjoy VIP access to amphitheatre events, early concert ticket sales, and the Terrace Club Experience, which offers a dedicated entrance and exclusive patio access shared with season pass and box holders.
The tasting room is open daily from 11am to 5pm.
Courtney, a California native, commented: “Our goal is to uphold the incredible legacy here while also embracing the future – whether that’s through our refreshed urban tasting room or our commitment to crafting wines of the highest quality that reflect both tradition and innovation.”
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