2009 Stolpman Petite Sirah

Stolpman Vineyards was founded in 1990 when Tom and Marilyn Stolpman bought 220 acres on the Central Coast above Santa Barbara. Tom Stolpman is an attorney with a practice in Long Beach, California, but he and Marilyn were long time wine collectors who wanted to be involved in the wine industry. For several years the couple grew grapes which were sold to Sine Qua Non, Ojai Vineyards and other area producers. But in 1997 the Stoplmans started producing their own wines and today about 90% of the grapes grown on their 152-acre vineyard goes to make their own Stolpman wines. Stolpman produces Syrah, Roussane, Sangiovese and Sauvignon Blanc. It also has limited plantings of Grenache, Viognier, Petite Sirah and Chardonnay. Stolpman’s Rhone-style blends earn ratings in the low- to mid-90s. Robert M. Parker Jr. has called Stolpman “one of the up-and-coming estates in the Santa Ynez Valley…Stolpman should be a name to reckon with for many decades to come.”

Santa Ynez Valley AVA is home to more wineries than any other area in Santa Barbara County. The appellation was established in 1983 and it includes a total of 76,800 acres, of which 1,500 acres are vineyards. Chardonnay is the dominant grape in this appellation, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Merlot. The appellation runs east and west with temperatures and microclimates changing significantly from warmer in the east to cool by the time the district gets close to the Pacific Ocean. In recent years Rhone-style wines have been successfully made here, and vineyards now are also planted to Syrah, Viognier, Roussanne, Grenache, Mourvedre and Marsanne.

Despite its popularity, this grape is quite rare. Less than 10,000 acres are planted worldwide, with the bulk in California. In France, the grape is referred to as Durif. Not to be confused with Syrah, Petite Sirah is a cross of Syrah and Peloursin. The result is darker and fuller.