Outward Syrah, Santa Ynez Valley, California

Windswept afternoons and cool valley nights shape the spirit of the 2024 Outward Syrah, a wine born from the rugged beauty of Santa Ynez Valley and guided by a winemaking philosophy rooted in exploration and authenticity. This bottling captures the tension between sun-warmed fruit and coastal freshness, delivering a Syrah that is lifted, expressive, and undeniably alive.

Product Details:

• Producer: Outward Wines
• Winemakers: Natalie Siddique & Ryan Pace
• Owners: Natalie Siddique & Ryan Pace
• Vineyards: Pace Vineyard (planted 2000); Starfire Vineyard (first harvested 2024)
• Farming: Regenerative organic
• Composition: 95% Syrah, 5% Viognier
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Cases Produced: 168
• Harvest Dates: Late September–early October 2024
• Harvest Brix: 22.3 & 23.7
• Fermentation: 100% whole cluster; native yeast; co-fermented with Viognier
• Maceration: 14 days on skins
• Aging: 10 months in neutral French oak
• Fining/Filtration: None
• Additions: Minimal sulfur before bottling
• Chemistry:
  • pH: 3.75; 
  • TA: 5.5 g/L;
  • RS: 0.1 g/L

Sensory Description:

Aromatic and dynamic, the 2024 Outward Syrah leads with violet, blackberry, and boysenberry, accented by cracked black pepper, graphite, and a savory hint of bacon fat. On the palate, supple tannins intertwine with bright, natural acidity, giving the wine a graceful frame around its bold fruit. The finish is pure, lifted, and deeply satisfying—Syrah at its most vibrant.

Winemaker's Background:

Outward Wines is the collaborative vision of partners and winemakers Natalie Siddique and Ryan Pace, who share a commitment to producing small-lot, site-driven wines from California’s Central Coast. Their vineyards, farm-managed parcels across the San Luis Obispo Coast and Santa Ynez Valley, are all organic at minimum and profoundly influenced by proximity to the cold Pacific Ocean. In the cellar, Outward embraces a minimal-intervention approach: native fermentations, old French oak, and bottling without fining or filtration. The result is honest, energetic wines that reflect both place and the thoughtful human hands behind them.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve slightly cool at 15–17°C (59–63°F) to enhance the wine’s floral lift and spice. Its supple structure and savory undertones pair beautifully with grilled lamb, roasted duck, venison, charred vegetables, shakshuka, smoked mushrooms, and dishes featuring rosemary, sage, or black pepper. Its balance of fruit and acidity also makes it a standout with wood-fired pizzas and hearty stews.

The 2024 Outward Syrah is an expressive testament to regenerative farming, thoughtful craftsmanship, and the adventurous ethos that defines Natalie Siddique and Ryan Pace’s work, an unforgettable lens into the Santa Ynez Valley’s complexity and character.