Stolpman Vineyards La Cuadrilla 2023

One of my favorite memories is running up the rugged hills of the Stolpman estate in Santa Barbara County. It’s a wild place, with jackrabbits the size of coyotes and a fun rope swing that drops you into a swimming hole where if you don’t scramble out fast enough, you are likely to get a bite or 2 from angry carp. Running through the estate is where you really get a sense for the limestone there, an utter rarity in CA and is absolutely one of the secrets to Pete Stolpman’s aromatically complex, vibrant wines.

His latest release, La Cuadrilla, is much more than a stylish, elegant blend of Syrah and Grenache. Each year, the Stolpman’s designate one block of the vineyard for the full time farm workers at the estate to manage entirely on their own. Staying within the general principles of the Stolpman farming philosophy, la cuadrilla or “the crew” make all the farming decisions, from pruning to harvest.

In return, the Stolpmans give 100% of the profits back to the workers. Pete says it’s the best motivational tool they could have ever put into place; this piece of ownership breeds loyalty and immense pride in their work.