CHEESE 24/7 - From your fine friends at Cured and Cultivated

Now that we have moved to the winery and cannot conveniently run across the street to pick up cheese anymore, we have reunited with "Cured and Cultivated" a wonderful husband and wife passion project in Paso Robles. We source our charcuterie plates and a few other delicious snacks from them. However, I recently discovered they have a whole new ballgame, and it a a bunch of fun! - Vending machines!

If you’ve spent any time in Paso Robles, you already know—great wine is never the problem. (Especially at Pianetta)

We’ve all been there. You’ve got the perfect bottle open, maybe you’ve even used the good glasses, and then—nothing. No cheese. No charcuterie. Not even a respectable cracker. Just vibes and poor decision-making.

Sure, you could go hunting for food. But what if it’s early? Or late? Or you are already exactly where you want to be and refuse to move? Enter: Cured and Cultivated, with a solution so simple it almost feels unfair: Gourmet Vending Machines.   NOTICE:  This is not your childhood vending machine.  Let’s set expectations properly. These machines do not contain: Doritos, Snickers, or Regret. Instead, they are stocked with: beautifully curated charcuterie plates, local and imported cheeses, artisan salamis, crackers, spreads, and—because Paso likes to keep things interesting—black caviar.  Yes. From a vending machine. Take a moment with that.

Behind this stroke of genius are Anatoly and Katherine Vorontsov, founders of Cured and Cultivated, who have now installed their sixth machine in the Paso area. When asked about the concept, Anatoly explained: “You never know when you need black caviar—it could be 2am, or 8am.” And honestly, if you’ve ever hosted friends, you know both of those times are equally dangerous.

The idea started the way many good Paso ideas do: wine tasting. Anatoly and Katherine noticed something missing at many stops—real food. Not just a handful of crackers politely pretending to help. They began creating custom cheese and charcuterie pairings for wineries and tasting rooms. And then they thought: What if we just… made this available all the time? Cue the vending machines. Because if people come to Paso for a gourmet experience, it shouldn’t come with office hours. Anatoly states  “It has been a dream of mine for a very long time… but also, I think it is just cool.”  

While everything inside is tempting, a couple items have clearly risen to local fame. Black Lemon Gouda has developed a following—rich, slightly citrusy, and just unusual enough to make you feel like you discovered something before your friends did. There is also the Black Caviar—which continues to be one of the top sellers. Apparently, Paso Robles has collectively agreed that luxury snacks should no longer be reserved for special occasions… or daylight hours.

My personal favorite: The Alle Pia Salami pairs exquisitely with the 2022 Bilancio!

WHY THIS ACTUALLY WORKS

1. Local Flavor (Literally)Most of what you’ll find inside is sourced right here on the Central Coast—featuring names like Central Coast Creamery, Stepladder Creamery, and Alle-Pia Salumi. It’s basically a greatest hits album of local flavor.

2. Elevated SnackingThis is not a “grab whatever’s left” situation. This is intentional, curated, and—dare we say—impress-your-friends worthy.

3. Convenience Without CompromiseWhether you’re between tastings, back at your RV, or mid-sunset and unwilling to sacrifice the moment, these machines deliver exactly what you didn’t plan ahead for.

4. Thoughtful PackagingEven the packaging pulls its weight—using vacuum skin technology that keeps products fresh while reducing plastic use by up to 90%. So you can feel slightly better about how quickly you’re about to eat everything.

WHERE TO FIND YOUR NEXT GREAT DECISION

• Cured & Cultivated HQ – 825 Riverside Ave, Suite 5

• Tin City – 3005 Limestone Way A

• Thatcher Winery 

• Brochelle Winery 

• Sun Outdoors Wine Country RV 

• Cava Robles RV Resort 

FINAL THOUGHT (FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT PIANETTA)

At Pianetta, we’ve always believed that great wine deserves equally great company—and yes, that includes what’s on your plate.

So whether you planned ahead like a responsible adult… or found yourself suddenly in need of

at an unreasonable hour, it’s nice to know Paso has you covered.

Because a good bottle of wine should never have to stand alone.