A Tribute to Grace 'Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard' Grenache, Santa Barbara County

The 2022 A Tribute to Grace Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard Grenache is a striking expression of high-elevation terroir in the Cuyama Valley. Grown at 3,500 feet in the Sierra Madre Mountains, this wine channels the rugged landscape into a Grenache of depth, freshness, and character, beautifully crafted by Angela Osborne with her signature touch of elegance and restraint.

Product Details:

• Varietal: 100% Grenache
• Elevation: 3,500 feet
• Soil: Decomposed granite and clay loam with schist, quartzite, basalt, and gneiss
• Vineyard Block: “Mesa Norte,” 9.5 acres planted in 2000 with Grenache clone Tablas A on 101-14 rootstock
• Vinification: Native ferment, foot-tread daily for 10 days, pressed on day 14
• Élevage: 11 months in neutral French barrique and 500L puncheon
• Whole Cluster: 63%
• Harvest Date: October 6, 2022 (moon in Aquarius)
• Bottling Date: September 5, 2023 (moon in Aries)
• Alcohol: 14.2% ABV
• pH: 3.73
• Total Production: 224 cases
• Winemaker & Owner: Angela Osborne

Sensory Description:

This Grenache is laced with aromas of crushed red berries, fresh mint, spice, and subtle cedar. On the palate, it offers deceptive lightness at first sip, but quickly reveals a layered depth underscored by firm, youthful tannins. A tension between elegance and structure defines the wine, finishing with clarity and poise that promise graceful evolution in the cellar.

Awards & Accolades:

• 92 Points – Antonio Galloni (Vinous), July 2024

Winemaker's Background:

Founded by New Zealand–born winemaker Angela Osborne in 2007, A Tribute to Grace is dedicated exclusively to Grenache, capturing its ethereal qualities across single-vineyard expressions. Inspired by her grandmother, Grace, and her own philosophy of winemaking as an act of elegance and authenticity, Angela farms and vinifies with minimal intervention, allowing terroir and vintage to speak clearly. The Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard, with its elevation, rocky soils, and extreme diurnal shifts, provides fruit of exceptional purity and definition, making it one of the cornerstone sites of her work.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve at 60–64 °F. This wine pairs beautifully with herb-crusted lamb, roasted duck, or wild mushroom risotto. Its balance of red fruit vibrancy and earthy undertones also makes it a fine companion to Mediterranean fare and aged cheeses.

The 2022 A Tribute to Grace Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard Grenache is a captivating example of Angela Osborne’s artistry, layered, soulful, and built to reward both immediate enjoyment and thoughtful cellaring.