24 Sep Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Stolpman 2023 Ballard Canyon AVA “La Cuadrilla” Red Blend

In wine, and in life, it is easy to forget that community is at the heart of everything. The best wines do not just reflect the soil they come from; they reflect the people who tend the land and bring the bottles to life. And at Stolpman Vineyards, they have understood this from the very beginning. That is why the Stolpman 2023 Ballard Canyon AVA “La Cuadrilla” Red Blend, a wine that is made by the workers and profited by them as well, is the Please The Palate wine of the week.

About Stolpman Vineyards

The Stolpman story began in the late 1970s when Tom Stolpman, a UCLA student running a valet business, discovered fine Bordeaux wines through a client’s cellar. His fascination with limestone-grown wines carried through law school and his legal career, eventually leading him to purchase a cattle ranch in Ballard Canyon in 1990. Two years later, he planted vines, and Stolpman Vineyards was born. His first hire was Ruben Solórzano who to this day, with his wife Maria, manages the viticultural operations at Stolpman.

Tom’s son Pete eventually joined the family business after working harvests in Australia and Italy, and as a fine wine sales rep for the Henry Wine Group in California. It was there that he was awarded “Fine Wine Specialist of the Year” in 2008, still the youngest ever to receive that award. Since taking the reins in 2009, Pete has led Stolpman to national acclaim, while helping establish Ballard Canyon as its own AVA in 2013. Today, Stolpman is recognized for its organically and biodynamically farmed vineyards, dry farming practices, and small-lot, terroir-driven wines.

About La Cuadrilla

When Tom Stolpman purchased the land that is now Stolpman Vineyards, he declared that if his dream of owning a vineyard was to come true, it would positively affect everyone involved. From the beginning, Tom and vineyard manager Ruben Solórzano believed that the vineyard crew should not just be workers but stewards of the land. The team, which total 37 people today, are all full-time staff who work year round in the vineyard. From the start, Rubin gave the team their own 2-acre vineyard block, or Cuadra, that they would be responsible for. By acting as the farmer, and not just a worker, they took pride in ownership and paid attention to every detail.

The crew named themselves “La Cuadrilla”, meaning “the people of the block.” And, in 2003, the first vintage of La Cuadrilla wine was produced, allowing the crew to enjoy the final product of their labor. From 2004 – 2008, they labeled the wine under the Stolpman name and sold it, giving the month to the workers as a year-end bonus.

In 2009, when Pete took over, the program expanded into a full-fledged label. Today, La Cuadrilla makes up about 18% of Stolpman’s production, crafted from a blend of vineyard lots. The profits from every bottle sold are returned directly to the crew, divided by seniority, as both weekly and year-end bonuses. Each vintage carries a new black-and-white label design that honors the workers who make the wines possible.

Tasting Notes

The 2023 La Cuadrilla is a blend of 50% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, and 15% Sangiovese. The wine is aromatic, ripe, and dense but also energetic. It has aromas of red berries, plum, and lavender with spicy pepper and dried herb notes. The wine is fresh and lively at first and then dense with mid-palate weight. Tannins are soft and the finish is long.

Food Pairing

This is a beautifully balanced wine that will pair with a range of dishes including hamburgers, carne asada, sausages, and even mushroom risotto. As La Cuadrilla celebrates community, I decided I would share with wine with my community at a family dinner. While the dominance of Syrah in the wine blend gives the wine some darker and bolder notes, the wine still has a lightness to it. That is why is was a lovely pairing with our meal of roasted chicken and potatoes.

Where To Purchase

The 2023 Ballard Canyon AVA “La Cuadrilla” Red Blend (50% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, 15% Sangiovese) retails for just $26. It can be purchased on the Stolpman website and know that each bottle you purchase is given back to the people who make it. A good price and a great cause is reason to buy more than one bottle!

Meet The Winemaker

Meet Peter Stolpman and get to know him in 30 questions on the Wine Soundtrack USA podcast.