Paul Lato

Paul Lato Wines - Santa Maria, CA

Paul Lato is a Polish-born, Canadian-educated sommelier whose journey to winemaking embodies the spirit of the American dream. After a decade working in Toronto’s fine dining scene, Paul moved to Santa Barbara County in 2002 with no formal winemaking background—only a deep curiosity, relentless work ethic, and an unwavering passion for wine.

He began humbly, working as a cellar rat in a local custom crush facility. Without investors or partners, Paul cleaned floors, asked questions, and bartered labor for barrels and equipment. One barrel at a time, he built Paul Lato Wines from the ground up. Today, he produces highly acclaimed single-vineyard wines—primarily Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah—that reflect California’s expressive terroir through a lens of European finesse.

Now as the exclusive producer in the historic gravity-flow winery built by Robert Mondavi originally for Byron, Paul maintains complete control over every detail of production. His wines are allocated almost exclusively through a loyal mailing list and feature prominently on the wine lists of Michelin-starred restaurants across the United States and select international markets.

Paul’s work has garnered critical acclaim from the world’s top critics, with his 2018 “Il Padrino” Syrah earning a perfect 100-point score and his 2010 Le Souvenir Chardonnay winning top honors in international blind tastings judged by L’Academie du Vin in Japan.  His story is a testament to dedication, humility, and the belief that great wine is a labor of love—crafted with purpose, passion, and vision.