Stolpman Vineyards La Cuadrilla 2019

Stolpman Vineyards La Cuadrilla is a wine from and for the crew. Medium ruby purple colour. The nose opens with red berry and black plum aromas with nuances of liquorice and violet or lavender flowers. Deep bodied palate with a juicy acidity and coated by fine chalky tannins. Fresh black plum and red cherry feature above complementing floral nuances.

70% Syrah, 15% Grenache and 15% Sangiovese. The fruit comes from vines in small vineyard blocks – Cuadras – that crew members at Stolpman Vineyards were taught to manage independently. The profits from the wine is given back to the crew.

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. He asked vineyard manager Ruben Solorzano to employ their vineyard workers year-round, so the team members could have a steady job, career, and raise their families locally and with security.

Ruben took Tom’s idea a step further: he taught crew members the lifecycle of the vine so they would become further engaged with and passionate about their work. Ruben started a training program in which he gave one Cuadra – a small vineyard block – to his team, so they would take responsibility for their land as farmers rather than just workers.

A few years later, once the crew had independently mastered vineyard management, Ruben revealed his grand experiment to Mr. Stolpman. Thrilled, Tom declared that all of the wine made from the crew’s training Cuadra would be given to the team members for their own consumption.  Having the self-titled wine at the dinner table served as both a source of pride and a chance to appreciate fine wine, the fruits of the crew’s labor!

The profits are returned to the crew members, divided by seniority, in the form of both a year-end bonus as well as weekly bonuses on each paycheck.  The big year-end bonus allows the crew members a chance to add to their savings and overall cushion, while the weekly bonus aims to increase the quality of everyday life for La Cuadrilla and their families.    

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

- 92 POINTS

 The 2019 La Cuadrilla is a blend of 70% Syrah, 15% Grenache and 15% Sangiovese. Medium ruby-purple, it opens with perfumed red and blue berry fruits with nuances of licorice and flowers. The medium to full-bodied palate bursts with juicy fruits in a grainy frame, and it finishes long with loads of floral nuances.

- 91 POINTS

This blend of 70% Syrah, 15% Grenache and 15% Sangiovese, which is directed by and directly benefits the winery's full-time vineyard crew, begins with aromas of roasted yet crisp red fruit, rose petals and grilled meats, with an underlying carbonic tone. The palate is bright and zesty, with fresh fruits, white-pepper and charred meat flavors. 

- 90 POINTS

The 2019 La Cuadrilla Red Wine is mostly Syrah yet includes 15% each of Sangiovese and Grenache. Black cherries, blackberries, strawberries, pepper, and bay leaf define the nose, and it’s medium-bodied, round, and juicy on the palate. It’s impeccably made and a terrific value. It’s worth pointing out that all the profits from this cuvée to go their full-time vineyard workers.