Tatomer "Kick-on Ranch" Grüner Veltliner '19

Graham Tatomer’s interest in wine began when he was just a teenager working at Santa Barbara Winery, but it wasn’t until years later that a local job grew into a passion. Lafond Winery and its vineyard, home to among the oldest Riesling plantings in the region, is where the passion was sparked. Not long after, he decided to move to the Wachau, in Austria, and found a lifelong mentor in the legendary producer Emmerich Knoll.

Graham founded his own winery in 2008, and while his wines reflect an Austrian influence, they distinctly belong to the terroir of Santa Barbara. Here, the cool air from the Pacific Ocean and the sandy soils help create the conditions for producing balanced, aromatic wines. Graham’s wines are beautifully precise, with a unique charm and idiosyncratic quality that could only come from someone who was born and raised in the region. 

The 2019 “Kick-on Ranch” Grüner Veltliner shows notes of fresh, ripe citrus, stone fruit, and herbs. The balance between ripe fruit, a roundness on the midpalate, racy acidity, and minerality is what makes this such a delicious wine, and one that can be enjoyed now or aged for at least a few more years. We’ve heard this pairs wonderfully alongside chicken schnitzel and roasted vegetables. Only 24 cases produced!