Elizabeth Liemandt
I was at my last job for over six years, so I had a hard time adjusting to being the new kid in town. As someone who is always right (just ask my husband, sisters and parents), it was hard having to start over.
But I was determined to succeed. So, I set out on a quest to learn everything there was to learn about Ponte Winery. I thought, give me a few weeks and I will have this place figured out. Well, that was six months ago and I am still learning the ins and outs of the wine business. But one thing that I did pick up, and rather quickly, is that Ponte is no ordinary winery.
When designing the winery, Claudio wanted guests to not just visit the winery, but to experience it. That is why the property is surrounded by vineyards – you are not just at a winery, you are in the winery.
The buildings and gardens were designed to celebrate the architecture and landscaping of California, with the colors and textures influenced by the natural materials found on site.
And he wanted everyone to feel comfortable. Have you ever noticed that there are no steps at Ponte? That is because we didn’t want guests in wheelchairs, walkers (or the parents pushing strollers) to feel like second-class citizens. He wanted the experience to be the same for everyone, no matter if they walked, rolled or shuffled up the front walkway of the Tasting Room.
So next time you drive up to the property take note on how the Tasting Room seems to fit in so well with the surrounding countryside, and why our al fresco restaurant serves produce from just across the street. This didn’t just happen by chance, but rather by a very focused dream of what a winery could be.
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