2014 A Tribute to Grace Wine Company Morro View Vineyard Grenache, 1.5ltr

A Tribute to Grace is a mouthful for the name of a winery. But for Angela Osborne, the young New Zealand-born founder and winemaker, the name makes perfect sense. She chose the name to honor her grandmother Grace and the quality of grace, both of which have been important in her life. Osborne’s own story is graceful. She worked in the wine business in London before becoming enamored with Grenache and dedicating herself to its perfect expression. She was working as an assistant winemaker in Santa Barbara in 2007 when she launched her own label, making Grenache from a single vineyard, the Santa Barbara Highlands. Today she continues to make Grenache only, sourcing grapes from throughout California’s hotter grape growing regions. She also makes a Grenache rosé. In 2015 The San Francisco Chronicle named Osborne one of 10 Rising Stars in West Coast winemaking. Vinous has noted that “Angela Osborne is making some of the most distinctive Rhône-varietal wines on the West Coast.”

Edna Valley AVA is within San Luis Obispo County, and within the large Central Coast AVA. Edna Valley became an AVA in 1982 and it includes 22,400 acres of extremely fertile land blessed with a long growing season. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the principal grapes, though Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Albarino, Grenache, Viognier, Merlot and Petite Sirah also are grown. Spanish missionaries were growing grape vines in the Edna Valley in the 18th century, but the valley’s modern wine industry took off in the 1970s. Today there are more than 50 Edna Valley wineries.

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.