A delightful education for all wine lovers Leave a comment
TREATS GALORE—Above, West Tasting Room co-owner Amy Bates inside the Thousand Oaks store. Below, a platter of scrumptious finger foods.
There’s a new spot that’s changing the wine tasting game. Part retail outlet, part wine bar, and all heart, the West Tasting Room across from Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks offers it all.
Wine connoisseurs and those at the beginning of their wine-tasting journeys will definitely be delighted by so many offerings at this special place.
For one, it’s the perfect spot to wow guests or just have an intimate time for two, because the view is astounding. With daylight pouring into its large windows, the spectacular mountain view is perfection. And at night, the place glistens outdoors with another light show of its own. Either way, the West Tasting Room and wine bar is definitely a room with a view. But it’s also so much more.
As you enter, there’s a wall full of sparkling bottles beckoning to be shared, whether as gifts for family and friends or to yourself for a day well done. And although you can definitely purchase sparkling wines, West Tasting Room is named as such for a reason: You’ll only find wines from the West Coast states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Why? Amy Bates, who co-owns WTR with her husband, Evan, and friend Michael Sisois, explains that they wanted to create the kind of tasting room that they all felt was missing in the marketplace.
Photos ELA LINDSAY/Acorn Newspapers
“The goal for me is to make wine more accessible to people,” she said. “People usually end up getting the same ones, but there are so many different types available. And about 97% of (U.S.) wines come from those states, which are basically in our own backyard.”
This extremely knowledgeable bunch—with wine certifications galore, including sommelier—created West Tasting Room so that residents can come in and taste regional wines without having to go to lots of wineries on the hunt for the perfect tastes. However, once they learn about wines they like and have knowledge about them, then it’s a quick hop, skip, and a jump to visit the particular winemakers who excite them.
WTR’s owners aim to educate, excite and titillate their clientele, whether they’re already predisposed to particular wines and well-versed on those or not. Bates, who is often on-site as the day-to-day operator of the place, encourages people to get out of their comfort zones and sample everything West Tasting Room has to offer.
This means literally stepping up to the bar, where Bates or another one of WTR’s accredited staff members will be happy to pour wines for you to taste. Once you find something you enjoy, you can sit down at one of the cleverly designed seating areas to enjoy wines by the glass, bottle or flight. The space is casually elegant, conducive to either getting dressed up for a night out or just hanging around with some friends after work.
Not only does West Tasting Room offer a wine club, local winemakers are regularly invited to present their own brands for attendees to taste. Participants learn about the grapes used in the wine and how the weather in the region affects their growth and taste—all direct from the vintner, and all without taking a long drive into wine country.
“The winemaker will pour the wines and talk about where they come from,” Bates said.
As a non connoisseur, I was hesitant to even walk inside the place. But I was immediately greeted and put at ease while someone explained how WTR’s system works. Within minutes—and after sampling several yummy tastes—I felt happy to be at the start of my own wine journey. No longer afraid, I felt confident in tasting different bottles, with strange to me names like Albariño, Charbono red and Grüner Veltliner.
Sensing I gravitated toward white wines, Bates sat me down with a lovely flight of sparkling delights, each one full of flavor and ripe for more exploration.
Going to West Tasting Room is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon or evening. Open just a few months, Bates said that many folks are already starting to spend their workday on a computer at the establishment instead of at local coffee places. Bates laughingly refers to it as “wine and Wi-Fi time.” The atmosphere is wonderful, the staff smart and attentive, and it definitely makes for a time well spent and enjoyed.
There’s also a beautiful private event room, perfect for parties and intimate gatherings or meetings. Ask for a smorgasbord or two of goodies to go with the wine, and you have the perfect setting for any special event.
And the food here is amazing. I would come back just for more of their high-quality finger foods that are definitely a must-have for all who enter. And, of course, exquisitely crafted plates are the perfect pairing to any of the wines West Tasting Room has to offer.
West Tasting Room at 1867 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.
For more information, call (805) 371-4660 or go to www.westtastingroom.com.
