Sierra Madre Vineyard Kokoro Chardonnay
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2028
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Pan-seared scallops, roasted chicken, creamy mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the historic Sierra Madre Vineyard in the cool, wind-swept Santa Maria Valley, the 'Kokoro' Chardonnay is a testament to Paul Lato's artistic and emotional approach to winemaking. Named after the Japanese word for 'heart, mind, and soul,' this cuvée reflects the deep connection between the winemaker and the land. First planted in 1971, Sierra Madre Vineyard is defined by its sandy loam soils and direct maritime influence from the Pacific Ocean, which allow the Chardonnay grapes to ripen slowly while retaining brilliant natural acidity. Lato employs traditional, low-intervention techniques, including barrel fermentation and aging in select French oak barrels, to craft a wine of exceptional purity, textural richness, and vibrant mineral tension.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 2002 by Polish-born former sommelier Paul Lato, Paul Lato Wines is an acclaimed boutique winery based in Santa Barbara County, California. Guided by an artisanal, hands-off winemaking philosophy that prioritizes terroir transparency and balance, Lato works with some of the Central Coast's most prestigious cool-climate vineyards, including Bien Nacido, Solomon Hills, and Larner. The winery has achieved international critical acclaim for its intensely aromatic, textured, and nuanced small-lot Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, and Chardonnay, which are celebrated for their pure fruit expression, structural precision, and distinctive poetic cuvée designations.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Chardonnay
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
14.1-14.5%