Stefano Riboli
Especially aimed to all lovers of wine and good food, today’s first post takes you to Los Angeles’ only working winery. With a welcome as warm as the sun-baked hills of Tuscany, San Antonio Winery offers the atmosphere of a European wine estate and quality wines made from grapes grown on the owners’ vineyards in Monterey, Santa Barbara and Napa Counties.
San Antonio Winery was founded by Santo Cambianica who in 1917 left his home in Italy’s Northern Province of Lombardy and settled in Los Angeles’ Italian-American community. The winery named after Santo’s patron saint still remains in its initial location on Lamar Street, now Downtown L.A.’s up-and-coming River District.
In 1938, Santo’s nephew, Stefano Riboli, expanded his uncle’s company with the same spirit of dedication and originality San Antonio Winery operates today. Under the guidance of Anthony Riboli, the first member of the fourth generation to join this family’s business, San Antonio Winery has won more than 1,000 awards in international and national competitions.
Recently, Travel Blissful had the opportunity to talk with Stefano Riboli about the company that continues to represent the Riboli family’s history of passion and excellence.
E.J: What is the best part with running a family business?
S.R: The best part is seeing my family every day. Working hard and working together as families do in my native Bergamo, Italy.
E.J: What changes have you made with San Antonio Winery since your uncle Santo Cambianica founded the company?
S.R: Many changes were made since I began working at the Winery 70 years ago. We grew along with the industry. We always strived to make top notch wine and learned through trial and error. My wife and I made fantastic changes to our company starting in the late 1940’s. She was instrumental in creating the first wine tasting room and Winery restaurant in the State. She had and still has incredible visions for our company and is always striving for excellence.
E.J: Who are your customers? Mostly people from California or many tourists as well?
We have so many loyal customers. Many of them are multi generational customers whose grandparents and parents were raised in North East Los Angeles. We have many tourists as well that come from Europe and Asia.
E.J: I read about your Wine Seminars. Could you tell us a bit about them?
S.R: Fantastic wine seminars are offered monthly. They are paired with 3-4 course amazing lunches and 8-10 wines. They are wonderful for the novice or even wine snobs.
Maddalena Restauarant
E.J: Your Maddalena Restaurant seems wonderful. Are you serving vegetarian or vegan dishes as well?
S.R: Since my wife is from Piemonte , Italy we feature natural, wholesome dishes similar to those that we prepare at home. Lot’s of fresh garden vegetables, pasta’s and great seafood. Each day we feature a flavorful vegetarian dish.
Editor’s Note: For more information about San Antonio Winery, visit www.sanantoniowinery.com.
