Vineyard Hoedown
Paula Tabalipa and husband Michael Greenberg toast to the release of her first vintage of rosé.
Written by Caitlin White | Photographs by Renata Amazonas
For Paula Tabalipa, her latest venture, TABALIPA WINE CO., represents a major career shift. The Brazilian wardrobe stylist and costume designer recently moved to the Santa Ynez Valley with her husband, Michael Greenberg. The couple bought a home in Santa Ynez during the pandemic, and, shortly afterward, a historic vineyard down the hill from their house came up for sale. Getting into the wine world seemed to make sense, so the couple acquired the vineyard, and Tabalipa’s company issued its first vintage this summer.
“We wanted people to not only try the wine, but also experience the vineyard and the land.”
Working with local winemaker Dragonette, Tabalipa began to learn the business. She describes her first release as “a pleasure-driven Santa Ynez Valley rosé,” designed for sipping on hot summer days. To get the word out and to convey a sense of the terroir behind the wine, Tabalipa hosted a release party at the couple’s Living Life vineyards. Themed as a hoedown, the event included activities like hayrides, an acoustic set from Donavon Frankenreiter, a rodeo, a hot-air balloon, Santa Maria barbecue, and, of course, plenty of rosé.
“We wanted people to not only try the wine, but also experience the vineyard and the land,” Tabalipa says. “We’re representing the region, so we had Santa Maria barbecue and Finley Farms had a station of incredible tomatoes with burrata and pistachios. We had Lucky Hen’s incredible charcuterie boards. It was almost a farmers’ market setup. It was also a celebration of love, because my husband and I got married this summer in a very small ceremony, but then we decided to throw this party. The launch of the wine was also a celebration of our happily ever after.” tabalipawineco.com
