2014 Paul Lato Lumiere Larner Vineyard Grenache

Paul Lato was a sommelier at some of Toronto's best restaurants when Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat invited him to the Central Coast to help with the 1996 harvest. Lato returned to Toronto, but he'd been entranced with the idea of making wine. In 2002 Lato packed up and moved permanently to the Central Coast, where he worked as a cellar rat and made small amounts of his own wine on the side. His first vintages were praised by Robert M. Parker Jr. and other reviewers, and since then he has continued to make small amounts of Pinot Noir, Syrah and Chardonnay in Santa Maria from grapes sourced in Santa Rita, Santa Ynez Valley and the Santa Maria Valley. Though he makes only about 500 cases a year, Lato has earned a reputation for excellence. Robert M. Parker Jr. has generally rated Lato’s wines between 90 and 95 pts and notes that “Lato’s passion and impeccable attention to detail have resulted in some outstanding wines.” Lato's wines are usually available only by mailing list.

Santa Ynez Valley AVA is home to more wineries than any other area in Santa Barbara County. The appellation was established in 1983 and it includes a total of 76,800 acres, of which 1,500 acres are vineyards. Chardonnay is the dominant grape in this appellation, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Merlot. The appellation runs east and west with temperatures and microclimates changing significantly from warmer in the east to cool by the time the district gets close to the Pacific Ocean. In recent years Rhone-style wines have been successfully made here, and vineyards now are also planted to Syrah, Viognier, Roussanne, Grenache, Mourvedre and Marsanne.

One of the most popular red varieties planted, it ripens late and prefers hot dry climates. It probably originated in Spain, where it is still widely grown. Grenache is best known for its use in Southern Rhone wines, including those of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.