Winemaker Notes
This wine has a vibrant purple color with aromas of cherry, rose petals, and herbs de Provence. This medium-bodied is silky on the palate with bright with lively acidity.
Serve with a light chill. It will complement a variety of grilled meat, poultry, grilled fish as well as a refreshing complement to spicy dishes.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The well-made 2016 Verdad Graciano is another excellent example of why we don't always have to drink Cabernet. TASTING NOTES: This wine is a beautiful food-matching choice. Its aromas and flavors of piquant red fruit and lively minerality should pair it well with pan-fried pork chops in a tangy tomato sauce. (Tasted: August 19, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
Beyond the usual suspects, there are hundreds of red grape varieties grown throughout the world. Some are indigenous specialties capable of producing excellent single varietal wines, while others are better suited for use as blending grapes. Each has its own distinct viticultural characteristics, as well as aroma and flavor profiles, offering much to be discovered by the curious wine lover. In particular, Portugal and Italy are known for having a multitude of unique varieties but they can really be found in any region.
Ranging from cool and foggy in the west to warm and dry in the east, the Santa Ynez Valley is a climatically diverse growing area. The most expansive AVA within the larger Santa Barbara County region, Santa Ynez is also home to a wide variety of soil types and geographical features. The appellation is further divided into four distinct sub-AVAs—Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District and Happy Canyon—each with its own defining characteristics.
A wide selection of grapes is planted here—more than sixty different varieties, and counting. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate in the chilly west, while Zinfandel, Rhône blends, and Bordeaux blends rule the arid east. Syrah is successful at both ends of the valley, with a lean and peppery, Old-World sensibility closer to the coast and lush berry fruit further inland.