Avant, Tapas and Wine in Buellton

[Melanie Wong]

One of the pit stops on my August drive down to LA and San Diego was Avant Tapas and Wine in Buellton. Essentially, Avant is a wine bar in the midst of an industrial park, showcasing the producers who make their wine at Terravant’s facility. Downstairs is a retail wine shop, but once I stepped upstairs to the bar and lounge, I was impressed by how the windows were positioned to screen out the asphalt and instead framed the hillside vistas. The other end of the room overlooks the barrel room.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/6285185753/

The draw here is a wall of vinomatics and the chance to taste many wines by the ounce. For me, a 3.5-ounce taste of 2010 Longoria Santa Ynez “Clover Creek” Albariño, $3.50. I didn’t have a chance to order any food but I did see a pizza go by that looked like it might be tasty.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniew...

Special activities here include live music on Friday and Saturday, and Thursdays feature a farmers market on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, dinner and a movie on the 2nd, and wine trivia night on the 4th. I was sorry that I had to jump back in the car so quickly (and it still took me 4.5 hours to reach Inglewood for dinner), and hope that others who have been here can fill me in.

How do ‘hounds like this place?

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Avant
35 Industrial Way, Buellton, CA 93427

[OldJalamaMama]

I am not sure if the movie night/farmers market things are happening....they have a facebook page that offers daily specials- most of them seem like great deals- like 1/2 off wine from the wall, 1/2 off pizzas...One of their most popular itmes is yuppy crack- jalapeno-bacon type bites.

I think this place suffers from identity crisis. They have a new team in to run it- a great guy manning the fort and a wonderful Chef named Brooke- you can see her weekly at farmers market grabbing loads of goodies- the menu is rather inventive- though their kitchen isn't as equipt as one would think....not sure if the person who designed it ever cooked for a group?

I think Figueroa Mountain Brewery up the street does more business- and I hope that changes as more people become fans of both!

[Melanie Wong]

Thanks for the additional deets. To me, the impressive part was the three dozen or so wines on tap. I was sorry that i could taste more.

[OldJalamaMama]

To be honest, why this isn't the center of our local wine industry- the place to be seen...I don't know.

The wall of wine is impressive, the list of people makingw ine there is impressive and as you stated- the views and the building itself is amazing...its missing a heartbeat...like I said they have a great chef- the previous person running it was quirky/odd and now the new guy Joe is really working hard to reverse the last few years of impressions....

I think with some excellent front of the house staff, a few good events and proof they are ready to handle the title, they could become fantastic...Until then- its the cool place with the wall of wine and no customers.

[Melanie Wong]

Well, on the one hand, I'm not surprised that the brewery is the more popular spot. In Sonoma County, the tourists are in the wine bars and the locals/winery folks hang out mostly in the brewpubs.

Maybe Avant's real audience is a visitor like me who wants to do a quick survey of local wines.