Q&A: Laura Booras of Riverbench Vineyard & Winery

~ Life and wine with Laura Booras. ~

Laura Booras is the General Manager for Riverbench Vineyard and Winery in Santa Maria, California. Our relationship with Laura Booras really reflects our company.

From the first time we met, we have enjoyed hanging out. There was always a mutual respect for one another's drive and personality. The fact that she represented "juice" that Michael and I liked was even that much more rewarding. That later turned into an official client relationship for a year that we treasured. Riverbench wines are a staple in my house. I shared a bottle of their 2013 Chapel View Chardonnay with really close friends just the other night. It's always wonderful catching up with Laura, but this interview with her for our Q&A series peeled back a few layers even I didn't know. - Jason

Laura Booras, winemaker Clarissa Nagy, and vineyard manager Rawley Hermreck

The LAB: If the perfect life partner was a wine what would that wine taste like?

Laura: I love this question! The perfect life partner would be an aged Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne. Wines like that have a seriousness to them that borders on severe, but in a good way. They’re focused and balanced without being overbearing, but they still have that brightness and spunk that makes them fun. They’re ambitious, and they want to be the best they can be, and they accomplish this with grace and elegance. Yet they’re assertive enough to stand up for what they believe in, and not be run over. Hard to find - they’ll melt in your mouth and stay with you down to the final drop.

The LAB: What college experience prepared you the most for the industry, or job you do today?

Laura: I don’t tell a lot of people, but I was a meteorology major for my first three years of college. I ended up changing at the last minute because I decided physics was unbearable, but the major gave me the math and chemistry skills that I think are really important for vineyard and winemaking work. Also, forecasting was a big part of my studies, so I have to say that comes in handy now and then predicting the weather (somewhat) accurately. *smiles* Even though I’m not a winemaker, understanding these concepts gave me a great foundation when I’m teaching other people about wine.

The LAB: What is your go-to drink of late, or what drink in 2015 has excited you the most?

Laura: I am in love with French 75 cocktails. Champagne and gin – what’s not to love? But Champagne is, and will always be my go-to.​

​The LAB: Favorite guilty sin food with a bottle of Pinot Noir?

Laura: Pinot Noir and big, greasy, hearty cheeseburgers. With lots of aged cheddar cheese. And maybe some bacon.

The LAB: If a celebrity played you in a movie who would it be?

Laura: Reese Witherspoon with that cute southern charm!

The LAB: In two sentences what are your thoughts on social media covering beverage culture?

Laura: Social media is still so hard to understand; when you’re in sales, you want to see tangible results, and with social media that’s hard. But I love seeing in real time what people are talking about, liking, and spreading the good word on, because really, word of mouth is still all it is, and that’s the best marketing out there.

Special note - This is not Laura's dog, but damn, this dog is cute, too.

The LAB: This next weekend would you rather do a home project, do something adventurous outdoors, veg on Netflix, or something totally different?

Laura: I would love to curl up with a good book, a glass of wine, my dog, my boyfriend, and a blanket, and just watch the rain. Which I hope is coming.

The LAB: Always good stuff and lots of laughs with Laura. Thanks a million Laura, and hope to have a drink with you on the West Coast soon.

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