SoCal Restaurant Show November 7, 2026 Hour 2

“Absolution Cellars specializes in limited-production, handcrafted, single-vineyard wines from select vineyards all throughout the beautiful Central Coast. With over 20 different varieties and wines made each year, you’ll find something to please every palate. Each wine that they craft is the best version of itself – a unique portrait of place and time, an honest expression of where and when the grapes were grown. Made for you to savor, enjoy, and share with your family and friends, as well as strangers, who may become one or both.” Ava’s Sommelier, Vince McGranahan is WSET III. He supervises the wine list at the property’s three dining outlets as well as for functions. Luca Sautto oversees maintaining the service standards and training of the staffs of the 3, on-site food and beverage outlets including EMRE, Esperanza on the Roof and Pine Street Bistro. Vince and Luca join us to pull the cork on the ambitious wine program at Ava and also explain what it takes service-wise to foster destination restaurants worth returning to. “Boccabella’s 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a locals favorite on the Central Coast. Owned by a chef and a former City girl (Johnny Jantz and Shaana Rahman,) Boccabella makes killer olive oil from olives grown with love. Olives are harvested at the peak of perfection, and those little guys are pressed into an unctuous, delicious extra virgin olive oil. Choosing an olive oil is like choosing your favorite wine. You have to taste it, savor it and appreciate it. Then, you pick what you like.” Owners Johnny Jantz and Shaana Rahman join us to talk Extra Virgin Olive Oil.