2018 A Tribute to Grace Wine Company Spear Vineyard Grenache

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.”

Santa Rita Hills AVA in northern Santa Barbara County was granted appellation status in 2001. Located between the towns of Lompoc and Buellton, it has a total area of 30,720 acres with 2,700 vineyard acres. The area is considered a cool climate for vineyards, so vineyards are most often planted with the cool-weather grapes Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The hills in the western part of this appellation are directly exposed to the Pacific Ocean, meaning that maritime winds and fog make the western edge of the Santa Rita Hills AVA particularly cool. The Sanford & Benedict Vineyard planted in 1971 was the first vineyard in the district and is still considered one of the best.

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.