July 24, 2018Refining Winemaking

#chenincheninchenin

When Brian McClintic tried the 2017 Combe Chenin Blanc , he wrote me the following email: ” I just tasted with Raj at the winery. …

January 10, 2018Refining Winemaking

We Have a Serious Case of Sangiovese Fever!

Sangiovese: Defying the Market This winter, la Cuadrilla will plant 5.5 more acres of Sangiovese bringing our total acreage of the Tuscan vine to 21.…

January 3, 2018January 3, 2018Refining Winemaking

Wrapping up 2017 – A day at Stolpman

A Photo Essay by guest photographer John Lichtwardt featuring Our Founder, Tom Stolpman Our Winemaking Crew, including wine maker Kyle Knapp & assistant Matt Nocas…

November 8, 2017November 8, 2017Refining Winemaking

2017: Breaking the Cycle

A Pattern Emerged: Odd Numbered Vintages v. Even Numbered This decade’s vintage variation revolves around subtle differences in temperature and timing. Early season wind and…

October 31, 2016November 1, 2016Refining Winemaking

Defining the “Red Wine Drinker’s White”

In 2016, Roussanne clusters hung on the vine through October. La Cuadrilla waited for the Roussanne to ripen for almost a month after finishing the…

April 12, 2016Refining Winemaking

Corks: A Giant Leap Forward

With the debut of 2014 Grenache and 2014 Angeli, a bright white cork color denotes a revolution in perfecting quality. Every cork Stolpman now uses…

March 23, 2016Refining Winemaking

Marc Perrin: Roussanne Fanatic

Marc Perrin visited two wineries when he briefly came through California last week. On Saturday he met with Rajat Parr to walk the rows of…

February 8, 2016Refining Winemaking

2015 Rose – A Different Shade of Pink

I thought Sashi nailed the 2014 rose – super light and refreshing – firm, fresh strawberry fruit and racing acidity. The color was a pale…

February 2, 2016Refining Winemaking

Welcome Back, Kyle Knapp

When we started to look for a talented winemaker to add to our team, I made one call. Kyle Knapp began his winemaking career in…

January 27, 2016February 15, 2017Refining Winemaking

The Roller Coaster Ride that We Call Combe

When Rajat Parr convinced us to plant our first one acre block of Trousseau, I had no idea just how madly I would fall in…