Show 112, February 28, 2015: San Antonio Winery, Los Angeles

San Antonio WineryThe historic San Antonio Winery was founded in Downtown Los Angeles in 1917. In 1910, Santo Cambianica left his home of Berzo San Fermo, located in the northern Italian province of Lombardia. After registering at Ellis Island, he arrived in New York and then traveled across the country to Downtown Los Angeles. He quickly became well known as an honest, hard-working, and deeply devout Catholic, the very same qualities he was known for back home.

It took a few years of saving money, building his relationships, and planting his feet in the Italian-American community to start his own company and live the American Dream. Santo founded the San Antonio Winery in 1917 on Lamar Street, dedicating it to his Patron Saint Anthony. It’s still there to this day.

By 1933, following the Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression, nearly all of Los Angeles’ 100 wineries were shut down for good. However, despite Prohibition, San Antonio Winery was able to flourish, becoming the number one provider of altar wines for The Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

“We are blessed today to have four generations of family contributing to our success. Our vineyards are now located in Paso Robles, Monterey and Napa Valley. We are proud to be the most awarded winery in Los Angeles. We invite you to become part of our family by visiting the San Antonio Winery.”

The San Antonio Winery campus in Downtown Los Angeles is a great attraction for visitors with living history. It’s a working winery, comfortable and spacious tasting room, and destination restaurant serving many of Maddalena’s (Riboli) classic Italian – American recipes.

On air we tasted the new 2013 Opaque Darkness Red Blend, Paso Robles, from the Riboli Family Wine Estates. It’s a provocative blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Petit Sirah and Petit Verdot from their estate vineyards. It’s aged in French and American oak barrels for 10 months.

Raymond Shorter from the San Antonio Winery is our guest and brings us up to date.