Derby Wine Estates opens with ribbon cutting
Ray and Pam Derby, owners of Derby Wine Estates, with supporters at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday. Photos by Meagan Friberg.
Newly-renovated historic Paso Robles building now boasts wine tasting room, VIP tower room, and processing & storage facility
Ray and Pam Derby, owners of Derby Wine Estates, were surrounded by wine club members, friends, staff and city dignitaries on Thursday evening during a VIP ribbon cutting ceremony with the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce, on the eve of their grand opening of the newly-renovated space in the former Farmer’s Alliance building.
“I am really proud of this project and how it has turned out; probably just as much, if not more, I am proud of the fact that we are flying the American flag overhead after so many years of it not flying,” Derby said before he turned the program over to Paso Robles Mayor Duance Picanco.
Picanco thanked the Derbys for starting a new business in Paso Robles, read a proclamation and presented the Derbys with a plaque.
Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Interim President/CEO Zoe Taylor presents a plaque to the Derbys and offers congratulations and praise for the renovated building.
“It was important that somebody retain this building and its history and you have done an outstanding job,” Picanco said.
As Chamber Interim President/CEO Zoe Taylor presented another plaque to the Derbys, she offered congratulations and praise for the renovated building, saying, “This is absolutely incredible – what a great visual from Highway 101.”
After two years of renovating the historic 1922 building – the Derbys purchased the 11,250 square foot space in 2010 after it had been closed since 1975 and acquired a building permit in 2012 – the former almond processing space is now home to a 750 square foot tasting room and a 1,000 square foot VIP lounge in the tower that overlooks the city. About 10,000 square feet is set aside for processing and storing wines.
“This has turned out even better than I had envisioned,” Derby said as he mingled with guests in the barrel room following the ribbon cutting. “When I first started thinking about turning this building into a winery it was pretty stark and badly-deteriorated – and now, this has really turned out well.”
When asked about reactions from community members, Derby said, “Everyone seems very enthusiastic and pleased that we were able to preserve an icon of the city. The general feeling is that people are proud of what has been accomplished. We hope the public will come in, enjoy the wines and enjoy looking around our new place.”
The Derby Wine Estates tasting room will officially open at 525 Riverside Ave. today, April 11 and will be open daily, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
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