Batana Malvasia
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2025
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Spicy Thai curry, grilled sea bass with herbs, fresh goat cheese
✨ Technical Specifications
Crafted by the visionary Paul Lato, 'Batana' is a stunning expression of Malvasia Bianca sourced from the prestigious Larner Vineyard in Santa Barbara County's Ballard Canyon. The wine is named after the traditional flat-bottomed wooden fishing boats of Rovinj, Croatia, paying homage to coastal heritage and the spirit of maritime exploration. Lato coaxes incredible aromatic complexity from this ancient Mediterranean grape, balancing its naturally flamboyant, exotic perfume of orange blossom, jasmine, and white peach with a vibrant, mineral-driven acidity. Through careful, minimal-intervention winemaking, this rare California bottling captures both the sun-drenched terroir of the Central Coast and the elegant, textured precision that defines Lato's signature style.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 2002 by Polish-born former Toronto sommelier Paul Lato, this boutique Central Coast winery emerged after early mentorship from Au Bon Climat's Jim Clendenen and encouragement from Bien Nacido's Bob Miller. Operating without estate acreage, Lato contracts premier, meticulously farmed plots across premier maritime-influenced cool-climate terroirs, spanning the Santa Maria Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands, and Los Carneros. The viticultural philosophy focuses on rigorous yield restriction, physiological maturity, and sustainable management tailored block by block. In the cellar, Lato applies an intuitive, non-interventionist approach with small-lot fermentations, ambient yeast, and sensitive French oak aging to deliver exceptional textural tension, purity, and culinary balance. Celebrated white cuvées—including the Hyde Vineyard Goldberg Variations Chardonnay, Sierra Madre Kokoro Chardonnay, Le Bon Vivant, and O Sole Mio Sauvignon Blanc—stand alongside benchmark Pinot Noir and Syrah as some of California's most critically acclaimed, authentic, and seamless single-vineyard expressions.
🍇 Grapes
Malvasia Bianca