THROUGH AN ARTISTE'S EYE
Artiste Winery Tasting Studio
Artiste Winery Tasting Studio stands as a testament to the exquisite marriage between the worlds of fine art and winemaking. Artiste Winemaker Bion Rice and his wife Anna, Artiste’s Creative Director, have cultivated an exceptionally unique experience with their studio in the picturesque town of Los Olivos. He is what’s inside the bottle, and she’s the outside of it. Stepping into this charming establishment, visitors are greeted with an immersive experience. You can taste, shop, blend, paint, pair, or simply marvel at the vibrant gallery space adorned with captivating artworks that reflect the spirit of the wines. As you take in this organically sophisticated studio space, you will certainly note an undeniable and remarkable fusion of the craftsmanship of winemaking with the creativity of painting.
At its core, Artiste is an Impressionist winery, and that rustic yet defined nature can be felt in the classic “Artiste” mouthfeel and long finish for which its wines are known. “It’s all about creating that style—the house style. When you’re creating a house style, you’re basically saying to your customers, ‘We’re going to make this same kind of flavor profile that represents what we love.’ So that consistency is what people fall in love with,” Bion explains of what it means to seek out a winemaker whose palette is true to one’s own. “If that palette is aligned, then that’s what you’re really buying.” The assemblages Bion crafts are dangerously drinkable and will instantly elevate any occasion with their presence.
Bion is gifted with blending wines, a passion he discovered while working in his family’s winery, Sunstone. He has also always been fascinated with Impressionism and admires today’s contemporary movement of this style. Artiste marries these two great loves. “We’re art-inspired wines,” Bion asserts of the artwork referenced. “I basically look at that, and all of the use of color, the composition, the story behind the piece, and the artist’s preferences—a lot of that drives the blends for the inside of the bottle.” Anna further elaborates, “The art and the wine are actually totally connected.” She emphasizes that “it really does start with the artwork,” and the blend follows.
Artiste was one of the wineries—if not the first—to start using art solely as their label. “We kind of gave up on the front label branding because we really wanted the wine bottle to frame the art,” Anna reveals of what it took to make the bottle be the brand. Each bottle features a work of art as its front label. Said work is the wine’s name, which can be found on the back label, where the artist and artwork medium is listed alongside the blending ratios. Also provided is the year it was bottled, as well as an “Optimal till” note, informing people of the best timeframe in which to drink each wine.
Artiste provides patrons with the opportunity to blend their own wine in the studio. For this experience, a blending placemat provides space for three different baseline wines. Once those varietals have been analyzed for their aromas, flavors, and mouthfeel, they are scored. This helps determine the manner in which you go about the ratio of wines blended in a graduated cylinder. You can test up to six blends. All blends are then analyzed and scored again before the highest-scoring wine is bottled and corked right in from of you. You even get to draw your own label and name the wine yourself.
At Artiste, wine is a medium, just like a canvas. By embracing this philosophy and infusing each bottle with the spirit of art, Artiste’s wines not only delight the taste buds but also evoke emotions, tell stories, and spark conversations. One way of experiencing the variety of wines at Artiste is by beginning with a traditional tasting of whites. The private blending session then allows one to taste various reds. A macaroon pairing with rosé is the perfect finishing touch. For this component, Anna serves her favorite macaroons, which come from Duverger. “They’re exclusive to us here,” she’s proud to say in this regard.
Every bottle of Artiste is crowned with a colorful, coordinating wax seal, just like how it used to be done before modern bottling. Such a practice demonstrates Artiste’s commitment to hand-made wines, which are hand-inspected before being hand-dipped. For those looking to collect these beautiful vessels, you can return an empty Artiste wine bottle to the studio to have it repurposed into a candle. Beyond the tasting room, Artiste hosts a variety of events, including wine release parties, art exhibitions, and educational workshops, all of which celebrate the intersection of wine and art, fostering a sense of community and creativity among wine enthusiasts, artists, and connoisseurs alike.
Artiste Winery Tasting Studio offers a welcoming and immersive tasting experience, engaging both the eyes and the taste buds. It has become a beloved destination in Los Olivos, drawing wine lovers, art aficionados, and curious travelers from near and far. Bion and Anna’s shared passion for both wine and art has allowed them to create an enchanting space where visitors can explore, appreciate, and be inspired by the artistic expressions captured in each bottle. As you raise a glass of Artiste wine, you become a part of this artistic journey. Ultimately, Artiste is where wine and art collide in a masterpiece of flavors.
Photographer Ellie Koleen
Ellie Koleen
Photographer
Ellie is a lifestyle, wedding, and brand photographer based in Fresno, California. An artist behind the lens, her trademark airy, light-filled style and masterful camera angles make her work easily recognizable. She uses her love for all things design related as inspiration for her work. The Fresno Bee named Ellie Best Photographer for the People’s Choice Awards in 2018 and 2019.
