Angela Osborne has been making some of the most ethereal, compelling wines of Grenache since she started A Tribute to Grace in 2007, and with each vintage she shows how varied and unique the varietal can be through the lens of her growing number of single vineyard examples from across Santa Barbara County and beyond. For a grape that is often thought of as producing big, powerful, bruisers of wines, Angela has mastered the art of restraint—her Grenache always possesses a particular nerve and energy, explicitly terroir-driven, with a delicate touch and layers of complexity that begin to unwind with each sip. Therein lies the beauty of these wines, and Grenache in general, which can be many different things all at once.

Grenache has a long and storied history in California, dating back to the mid-1800s when it was first grafted onto Mission vines by Charles LeFranc. With its high yields, big potential for sugar/alcohol and ability to thrive in warm areas it was used throughout the 20th century mostly as a blending grape, finding its place in any number of supermarket wines where varietal, let alone any semblance of terroir, was an afterthought. Then came the Rhône Rangers, led by California wine pioneers Randall Graham (Bonny Doon), Bob Lindquist (Qupé) and Joseph Phelps in the 1980s, who made a tremendous effort to champion Grenache and other Rhône varietals in contrast to the more fashionable Cabernet Sauvignons and Pinot Noirs of the era. By revitalizing some of the oldest Grenache vineyards in the state and planting some of their own, this group of visionaries paved the way for future winemakers like Angela to continue to explore the still under-discovered potential of California Grenache.

Angela moved to California from New Zealand in 2006 after working in wine retail for six years, and shortly thereafter she hit the ground running. She worked with a number of California producers and growers including Failla, LIOCO and Ann Kraemer at Shake Ridge Ranch, all while making small amounts of her own wine from a vineyard in Santa Barbara County. Angela has expanded from this first wine to produce eight single vineyard bottlings along with her Santa Barbara County Grenache, plus her always exceptional Rosé of Grenache. The single vineyard wines are truly remarkable in how different they can be, for example the contrast between her delicate and heady Shake Ridge Grenache and the more jovial and ebullient Dorigo Family Vineyard Grenache couldn’t be more profound. Yet, each wine has the ability to evoke many different moods throughout the course of a glass, and often the initial impression is just the tip of the iceberg. The Shake Ridge Grenache will eventually reveal its sturdy foundation and quiet power, while the Dorigo Family Grenache will flash an airy mysticism and more contemplative side given time. Angela is able to weave these elements seamlessly into her wines, which all seem to carry her vibrant energy and measured approach. We are excited to offer several of her outstanding single vineyard wines along with her Santa Barbara County Grenache and her Rosé, just in time for fall weather! -Jeff DiLorenzo

**Wines arrive 9/30, please allow until Wednesday 10/1 for pickup/delivery**