Producer | Stolpman Vineyards |
Country | United States |
Region | California |
Subregion | Ballard Canyon |
Varietal | Pinot Gris, Tocai Friulano, Gewurztraminer, Orange Muscat |
Vintage | 2023 |
Sku | 39052 |
Size | 750ml |
Stolpman Vineyards, founded by Tom and Marilyn Stolpman in 1988, is located in the Ballard Canyon AVA of Santa Barbara County. The vineyard's story began with a honeymoon dream and a search for limestone near the ocean. In 1994, Ruben and Maria Solorzano joined as vineyard managers, implementing a year-round team and profit-sharing program. Tom's son Peter later joined the business, expanding wine production and increasing the profit-sharing program for vineyard workers. Stolpman Vineyards embodies the spirit of early American winegrowing pioneers, combining family dreams, land stewardship, and world-class winemaking through continuous learning and collaboration.
The "So Fresh" lineup from Stolpman Vineyards includes the Love You Bunches wines and Crunchy Rôastie Syrah, focusing on freshness and vibrant flavors. These wines come from Santa Barbara County, known for its unique terroir influenced by coastal fog and diverse soils.
For the Love You Bunches Orange, the winemakers chose a blend of Pinot Gris for depth and richness, Orange Muscat for tropical notes, Tocai Friulano for texture and brightness, and Gewürztraminer for color and exotic flavors. This combination showcases the region's ability to produce aromatic white varieties with good acidity.
The winemaking process involves native fermentation of whole, uncrushed grapes using carbonic maceration. For the orange wine, whole grapes undergo a 7-day fermentation before pressing. The wines are harvested early for higher acidity, bottled early without added sulfur, and left unfiltered to preserve freshness.
The 2023 vintage offers a vibrant palette of flavors. It opens with a crisp ruby red grapefruit note, accompanied by tropical undertones. Golden pineapple flavors dominate the mid-palate, while subtle hints of coconut, wood, and stone provide depth and complexity. The overall profile is reminiscent of a more sophisticated, savory interpretation of Squirt soda, balancing fruity exuberance with mature nuances.