Souvenir Sierra Madre Chardonnay
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2028
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Pan-seared sea scallops, roasted chicken with herbs, creamy mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
Crafted by master sommelier turned winemaker Paul Lato, the 'Souvenir' Chardonnay is a liquid homage to the historic Sierra Madre Vineyard. First planted in 1971, Sierra Madre is one of the foundational sites of the Santa Maria Valley, celebrated for its cool, maritime climate and free-draining sandy soils. The name 'Souvenir' reflects Lato's desire to capture a sensory keepsake of this unique terroir. Influenced by persistent ocean breezes and morning fog, the grapes undergo a slow ripening process that preserves vibrant natural acidity. In the cellar, Lato employs traditional Burgundian techniques, including native yeast fermentation and aging in select French oak barrels. The resulting wine is a masterful balance of rich, textured weight and energetic, mineral-driven tension, showcasing notes of stone fruit, citrus blossom, and subtle toasted brioche.
🍾 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
Chardonnay
🍷 ABV
14.1-14.5%