RUTH LEWANDOWSKI Tatto

"Tatto" from Ruth Lewandowski is a dazzling and spirited natural orange wine that exemplifies winemaker Evan Lewandowski’s boundary-pushing creativity and commitment to minimal-intervention winemaking. Hailing from Mendocino County, California, this skin-contact white is a vibrant blend of aromatic grape varieties, including Friulano, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscat, with recent vintages incorporating additions like Kerner, Malvasia Bianca, Gruner Veltliner, and Trebbiano Toscano, sourced from organic vineyards such as Fox Hill and Cole Ranch. Each grape is vinified separately with a gentle 7-10 day skin maceration, amplifying its aromatic intensity while maintaining a delicate, tactile structure. Fermented spontaneously with native yeasts in polyethylene tanks and aged for five months on lees, "Tatto" is bottled unfined, unfiltered, and without added sulfur, resulting in a hazy, sunset-orange hue. The nose bursts with vivid notes of Meyer lemon, orange zest, gingery cherry pits, and a touch of Muscat-driven musk, spiced with hints of cloves and florals. On the palate, it’s succulent, textured, and refreshingly spicy, offering a bright acidity that dances alongside a pithy, persistent finish. Described as the “Lite-Brite” of skin-contact whites, "Tatto" is both gluggable and thought-provoking, perfect for pairing with grilled fish, sushi, or a lazy afternoon of sour peach gummies under the sun. This wine reflects Lewandowski’s philosophy of renewal and connection to the vineyard’s natural cycles, delivering pure, unadulterated joy in every sip.