Orange County fans of Bianchi Winery won’t always have to drive to Paso Robles — with a new tasting room open in Laguna Beach, Bianchi has come to you.

The Bianchi family is local and it’s always been their dream to bring the tasting room experience to their hometown.

“Laguna Beach is home, so it made sense to bring a tasting room to the place my family calls home,” said proprietor Beau Bianchi in an announcement to the media. “I look forward to seeing neighbors, friends and travelers alike in the tasting room, so they can experience the wines we are so passionate about.”

The Bianchis opened an office at the site in August and then began a long soft opening period, starting Oct. 30, with irregular hours in the tasting room and special events for wine club members. By Tuesday, Feb. 1 they were fully opened.

At the Bianchi Laguna Beach Tasting Room, signature and reserve collection wines will be poured, wine tastings and pairings will be led by tasting room manager Cristina Martinez, and curated by Beau Bianchi. Customers 21 and over can drink wine by the glass or bottle in a lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows and an ocean view.

Like tastings rooms in wine country, it will also serve as a boutique, selling bottles, handcrafted goods and specialty foods created by local artisans. Orange County-based wine club members will also have a chance to take advantage of wine pickup events, and other specials throughout the year.

Bianchi Winery was founded by Joseph Bianchi in 1974 with an investment in a winery and vineyard on the banks of the San Joaquin River in the Central Valley of California. His son, Glenn Bianchi, helped build the business by focusing on producing premium wines, searching throughout California to find the right terroir. He settled on 40 acres in Paso Robles in 2000.

Over the last two decades in Paso, the family business has grown, with Glenn’s son, Beau Bianchi, continuing to refine the wines and to make the estate a luxe destination, complete with a hospitality center on the property.

Bianchi’s most popular varietals are now available at restaurants and retail locations throughout the country and include chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, merlot, petite sirah and Paso Robles’ signature zinfandel.

Find it:  496 N. Coast Hwy., 949-646-9100, Laguna Beach, bianchiwine.com.

Open: daily except Tuesday, closing times may vary. 4-8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; 4-9 p.m. Friday; 1-9 p.m. Saturday; 1-6 p.m. Sunday.

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