Today, Stolpman Vineyards stands at 41% own-rooted, with over 100,000 vines on their own European Vinifera roots. While this exposes us to the risk of phylloxera, we believe that Ballard Canyon’s arid climate, combined with our practice of withholding irrigation for six months every year, greatly reduces the likelihood that the bug could live and thrive in our vineyard. The root louse is much more … Read More →
By forcing our vines to ripen grapes without irrigation, Stolpman Vineyards achieves naturally concentrated, vibrant flavors. Our dry farming technique might be the most important element of our viticultural methodology. In the 2012-2014 drought years, we reverted to Michel Roland’s definition of dry farming: no vines are irrigated after fruit set when tiny grapes appear. Without rainfall in Santa Barbara County from April through harvest, … Read More →
I thought Sashi nailed the 2014 rose – super light and refreshing – firm, fresh strawberry fruit and racing acidity. The color was a pale peach, and at least once last spring, I did a double take thinking I poured Sauvignon Blanc rather than rose. To my surprise, Sashi approached the 2015 vintage with a deviation in mind. 30% of the fruit fermented for 21 … Read More →
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 2005 at Ballard Canyon neighbor Beckmen Vineyards. Beckmen’s Purisima Mountain Vineyard borders Stolpman and like our ranch, lies on Limestone soils. In 2006 Kyle embarked on an ambitious triple vintage first in Australia’s Flying Fish Winery Margaret River. Kyle returned … Read More →
For the past 27 years Ruben Solorzano has soaked up every drop of knowledge from his mentors. He first turned to his older brother Marcos for guidance, and through the 1990s, Jeff Newton took Ruben under his wing. Then Sashi Moorman and Alberto Antonini came on the scene in 2001, and a few years later, Michel Rolland began consultations. Today Ruben stays in regular contact … Read More →
If we could only meet one winemaker in Paso Robles, it would have to be Justin Smith. Yes, there is Saxum’s allure: the waiting list and the 100 point score. But there is more to Saxum than the winery’s reputation – owner winemaker Justin Smith’s discoveries and innovations – and his willingness to share them – have shaped the methodologies of the Central Coast’s highest … Read More →
Tom Stolpman’s Mandate from Day One: “Hide at least 10 cases of every wine we bottle deep inside the cold room and don’t let me touch them!” Just as Tom predicted: tannins integrated, flavors blossomed, textures fleshed. Luxurious, revelatory wines flourished the only way possible, via patience. We hoarded these wines to a tipping point. Eventually we ran out of space, and I opened flights … Read More →
With harvest finished, Grenache barreled, and the first rainfall since March penetrating into our Limestone; November gives us a chance to take stock of our recent journeys and give thanks for the amazing opportunities we have. R E C E N T J O U R N I E S The past three vintages enabled phenomenal wine quality and Sashi pushed the envelope in ways … Read More →
R E D R E C A P No doubt the 2014 red vintage will go down as a supple, voluptuous one. Sashi and the team started picking Syrah early to retain acid and ensure alcohols didn’t get out of control. By the time we finished Syrah, the fruit tasted very ripe, and the cuvees now finished with primary fermentation smack of rich fruit. Cuadrilla … Read More →
Over the past few years, Grenache has quietly gone through a revolution in California and Stolpman Vineyards’ program mirrors the change. Jon Bonne wrote an article back in March of 2011 {READ ARTICLE} about Grenache’s promising future and followed up on the varietal earlier this year {READ ARTICLE} Friends like Russell From of Herman Story make Grenaches so juicy and inviting, they’re hard not to like. The … Read More →