Happiness Alegria Hilliard Bruce Vineyard Pinot Noir
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 3–10 years from vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted duck breast, wild mushroom risotto, herb-crusted pork tenderloin
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Crafted by Polish-born sommelier turned winemaker Paul Lato, the 'Happiness' (Alegria) bottling is a heartfelt expression of the Hilliard Bruce Vineyard, situated in the cool, wind-swept northern corridor of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Lato, known for naming his wines after emotional states and artistic concepts, captures the joyful, vibrant character of this unique site. The vineyard's sandy loam soils and intense maritime influence yield Pinot Noir with remarkable tension, bright acidity, and concentrated red fruit flavors. Lato employs gentle handling, native yeast fermentation, and French oak aging to preserve the pristine purity of the fruit, resulting in a wine defined by its silky texture, elegant structure, and uplifting aromatic complexity.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 2002 by Polish-born sommelier Paul Lato, this artisanal winery is based in Santa Maria, California, within the heart of Santa Barbara County. Driven by a philosophy of minimal intervention and a quest for elegance and balance, Lato meticulously selects fruit from some of the Central Coast's most prestigious vineyards, including Bien Nacido, Solomon Hills, and Larner. The estate is highly acclaimed for its small-production, single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and Syrahs, which beautifully capture the unique maritime-influenced terroir of the region. With an unwavering focus on purity of fruit and texture, expressions like the Solomon Hills Pinot Noir Suerte and Larner Syrah Cinematique have earned the winery a reputation as one of California's premier boutique producers.