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WINE COUNTRY NEWS | WINE COUNTRY THIS MONTHAvant Tapas and WineWhat is hip? Local Wine Pours and Savory Noshesby Melissa ChavezGather together 32 wines, serve them with delectable accompanimentsunder one stylish roof, and you’ve got a fun-to-do with friends,plans for a first date and all the more reason to celebrate TGIF. AvantTapas and Wine provides the perfect venue for just these occasionsand more.Located 40 miles northwest of Santa Barbara, Avant Tapas is positionedless than a mile off Hwy. 101 in Buellton. The tasting room iseasily accessible to civilization, yet within enviable western views ofthe Santa Rita Hills.In operation since October 2009, Avant Tapas and Wine is locatedwithin the Terravant custom crush facility, which owns Avant. In justthree years, small- to medium-sized winery operations heavily rely onstate-of-the-art equipment at Terravant. Because making great wine isserious business, its job is to help vintners realize the end result ofprecious years in the winemaking after the harvest – from crushing orpressing and fermentation, to aging and bottling. Communication andoversight between winemaker and oenologist make for a teamapproach in crafting the best wine possible.The exterior of the entrance is a striking mix of swank-meetscommercial,with bold angles and expansive window panes that glowfrom within when lit at evening. Inside the cavernous structure, linearoutlines of glass and metal are repeated throughout. Touches of CaliforniaArts & Crafts and Prairie Style are also conveyed throughtexture and color in reds and rusts, and tans and earthy browns. Theirdesign influences are most evident in symmetrical shapes and designelements, such as high-back leather seating and pendant lighting.For adventurous wine lovers, Avant Tapas offers the best of bothworlds: Winemakers are often on hand to serve portions and discussparticulars about their vintages, but the gadget-prone might want toget their hands on an assemblage of air-tight, electronic winedispensers that allow for tasting a multitude of vintages by a variety ofwineries. Most wine tastes hover from around $.75 to $3. And sure,these modern-day automats share a like steel fortitude of theircentury-old sandwich machine counterparts. But here, you’redestined to find tempting red Bordeaux varietals instead of bologna.Each digitally measured dispenser offers wine in the amount of yourchoice and, most importantly, a generous selection of them, too.“More than half our menu items feature a wine made in our facilityas an ingredient,” says General Manager Joe Padilla, a 20-year veteranof the restaurant and hospitality industry. “We are fanatical aboutwine. We are little crazy about pizzas, too.” Padilla says “more than 90percent of our menu ingredients are locally grown or harvested(within 200 miles).” Over half their menu items feature a wine madewithin the facility and the wines are provided at retail prices. “We donot mark up like a restaurant would.”The rave here is American tapas and signature wood-fired pizzasfeaturing local produce, wine and ingredients. Red oak brings thecrust an incredible bite and flavor to Avant’s proprietary dough leavenedwith Brunello di Montalcino yeast. Chef Brooke Stockwellfeatures both hot and cold tapas. The house specialties include the AhiCrudo, a fresh sashimi grade piece of ahi crusted with black and whitesesame seeds that is seared and chilled. Other favorite bites include8 www.WineCountryThisMonth.com
WINE COUNTRY THIS MONTH | WINE COUNTRY NEWSthe tongue-in-cheek Yuppie Crack, a goat cheese-stuffed datewrapped in bacon, and Poppers, grilled chicken and candiedjalapenos wrapped in bacon. Tapas menu items run $6 to $8. Othersavory bites include white shrimp, caper gremolata, saffron, and aiolion crostini and chocolate truffles for dessert.As guests swirl and sip to their hearts’ content, they can gazethrough the window at the Santa Ynez River beyond as they meet andmingle. More curious observers can include themselves in the winemakingprocess by checking out the windowed wall that lends a viewinto the working winery. Inside, steel fermentation tanks share realestate with wooden barrels stacked six layers high. One taste andanyone can soon grasp the intent of the operation. It’s the sort of placewhere old craftsmanship and new technology seem not only toharmoniously co-exist, but continue to grow.“Avant is about challenging ourselves, seeking new experiencesand growing our family,” says Padilla. “We believe in the quality ofCentral Coast wines and the bounty of Central Coast produce.”Avant Tapas and Wine is located at 35 Industrial Way in Buellton.(Take Hwy. 101 to CA-246. Proceed about .3 miles to Industrial Way.)Hours are Thursday and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday andSaturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call (805) 686-9400. Visitwww.avantwines.com. Or, see Avant Tapas on Facebook.Avant Tapas EventsLive music played every Friday. Thursday nights feature winemakers’dinners, culinary classes, wine classes and movie with dinnernights. Retail shop is open the same hours as the restaurant and bar,Tours of the winery are also available.www.WineCountryThisMonth.com9
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