Because most Rhône wines from different vineyards and appellations exhibit a wide varietal expression, we source fruit from very diverse vineyards throughout the Central Coast, with the ultimate goal of expressing the best of both the site and the variety. "Red Rhône varietals are a thing unto themselves," says Director of Winemaking Jonathan Nagy. "They seem to be somewhere between Burgundy and Bordeaux, which requires a certain amount of ‘unlocking’ during the maceration—not like Pinot Noir—and gentle handling during the aging process. At IO we consistently seek to bring out the elegant power of the Rhône varietals from our vineyards."

Current Releases:

Rhone Blend
2005 Io Rhone Blend, Santa Barbara County

Syrah
2005 Syrah, Ryan Road Vineyard
2005 Syrah, Upper Bench Vineyard

Grenache
2005 Grenache, Nielson Vineyard