| Every wine drinker should try Stolpman Vineyards | | | | practices. Peter Stolpman has talked about one of |
| Hilltop Syrah for a variety of reasons, but to sum | | | | their experimental farming practices where they |
| them up in a few points: quality of the wine, | | | | are leaving the umbilical chords of the vines |
| unique farming practices and the outstanding | | | | attached which may help prevent disease, may |
| people that own the winery. | | | | allow the mother vine to produce fruit for a |
| As with all wineries, if the wine isn't good none of | | | | longer period of time and allows them to plant a |
| us should be interested. I was excited to taste | | | | larger portion of their vineyard. |
| what Stolpman had to offer because they've | | | | Lastly, as I mentioned we not only enjoyed our |
| received some quality scores from major wine | | | | time with Peter but have a lot of respect for the |
| critics and have a very good reputation in the | | | | type of business that Stolpman Vineyards is |
| industry. | | | | running. They are currently the only winery in the |
| When we started tasting we were immediately | | | | state of California (that we're aware of and no |
| struck by a couple of things. To start we got | | | | one has even heard of anyone doing this |
| along quite well with Peter Stolpman whom is | | | | currently, or ever before) with a full time |
| running the winery that his father purchased and | | | | vineyard staff. They do not use day, or seasonal |
| has gotten off the ground. We appreciated | | | | laborers with the intent being that their farm |
| immediately Peter's candor in regard to the quality | | | | workers will do a higher quality of work if they |
| of certain wines (ie which were showing the best | | | | feel attached to the vineyard. To that end the |
| right now) and frankly on price for our wine clubs. | | | | Stolpman's give their 11 full time workers access |
| The main thing that stuck out for both Matt and I | | | | to a portion of the land in order to make their |
| was the wine though. The La Coppa Blanc was | | | | own wine. They have called this their La Cuadrilla |
| incredibly complex and balanced at once and may | | | | Project. The workers participate in all aspects of |
| be the best white wine we've had the privilege of | | | | the winemaking with lead winemaker Sashi |
| trying since beginning Uncorked Ventures. | | | | Moorman, with the goal being to provide their |
| Interestingly, Stolpman isn't known for it's white | | | | workers another way to not only feel connected |
| wine though. It's generally known around the | | | | to the company, but to also make a better life |
| industry for Syrah and other Rhone varietals. We | | | | for themselves. Lastly, during our trip through the |
| found that the Hilltop Syrah hit the spot for what | | | | vineyard we saw a ranch style home that looked |
| we're looking to source for Uncorked Ventures. | | | | new. Immediately we thought that the home |
| Aside from the general quality which was | | | | must belong to the family. After pointing out that |
| incredibly high we think it offers some unique | | | | they truly believed the old wine mantra that wine |
| flavor profiles, including a sense of blueberry and | | | | is made in the vineyard, Peter informed us that |
| honeysuckle which are rare flavor traits to be | | | | they had built the house for their vineyard |
| found in a Syrah. It's a great mid palate (for a | | | | manager whom lives there. Needless to say this |
| Syrah) wine that can easily be aged for 5-10 | | | | type of socially conscious farm is one that we're |
| years to lend richer and even more complex | | | | incredibly happy to represent. Tom Stolpman got |
| flavors. | | | | his start as a lawyer and has been instrumental at |
| The second significant factor that led us to be | | | | raising capital for the Legal Aide Society. |
| interested in Stolpman was their unique farming | | | | |