A cellar-worthy winemaker evening with Stephan Asseo, owner & winemaker of L’Aventure wines!
Epicurean Santa Barbara is extremely honored to host Stephan and his daughter Chloé in Santa Barbara for this rare and unique opportunity to experience L’Aventure wine, normally only offered to their allocation members and mailing list.
Stephan Asseo, originally from France, was already known for pushing the limits of winemaking. After making wine for 17 years in France, Stephan got tired of the French regulations, known as Apellation Controlée, which limited his desire to make creative blends. In 1997, Stephan and his wife Beatrice made the decision to start a new “adventure”! They had a few ideas on where to go, California being one of them. After searching thoroughly through Napa Valley and Sonoma, they did not find anything what they were looking for. Finally, they stumbled upon Paso Robles where they fell in love immediately with the area.
Stephan began making wine in 1982, following his education at L’Ecole Oenologique de Macon, Burgundy, France. In that same year, Stephan established Domaine de Courteillac in Bordeaux. He and his family later purchased Chateau Fleur Cardinal and Chateau Robin in the Cotes de Castillion, Bordeaux. Over the next 15 years, Stephan developed into an artisan winemaker of fastidious craftsmanship and gained a reputation as a maverick vigneron. However, his true desire was to be more innovative than AOC law would allow. In 1996, this led him on a quest for a great terroir, where he could pursue his ideal as a winemaker. After searching for over a year among the world’s great wine fields, ranging from South Africa to Lebanon, Argentina to Napa, Stephan found Paso Robles. Stephan immediately “fell in love” with the unique terroir of west side Paso Robles. The rolling topography of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range, the deep calcareous soils, and the maritime influences of the renowned Templeton Gap all combine to produce a world class wine country, with the potential to craft some of the world’s greatest blends. It is here, in Paso Robles, that Stephan began his adventure, “L’Aventure”.
“Come for the wine, stay for the winemaker, leave with a bottle!”
Join us for an enlightening evening with Stephan and Chole as they share their journey from France to Paso and their passion for elegenent and bold wines. The spirit of L’Aventure is most evident in Stephan’s “Paso Blends“, such as Optimus and Estate Cuvée. Both wines are Syrah/ Cabernet Sauvignon/ Petit Verdot blends. In these wines, as well as in our Rhône blend Côte à Côte, the blending of premium varietals increases the authenticity, complexity, and balance of the wines. In this adventurous spirit, we find the future of Paso Robles wines… great, balanced red blends.
Featured Wines
Estate Rosé 2017 – $32.00
Optimus Red Blend 2016 – $56.00
Côte a Côte GSM 2016 – $98.00
Estate Cuvée 2016 – $108.00
Plus an additional library Cuvée that Stephan will bring to the tasting!
The Winemaker evening takes place in a very special and unique Santa Barbara home with a view like no other. This modern home, with its large arched glass walls, features an unusual panoramic northern view looking across the bay; from Ventura in the east, along the mountains past the 154 San Marcos pass, to Gaviota in the west. Truly a sight!
