Qupé
by
Kathy Sullivan
Summary: The Qupé tasting room is located on the main street in the small, quaint town of Los Olivos. The word qupé means California poppy. Three members of the Lindquist family are winemakers with their own brands.
Located in the small town of Los Olivos, the Qupé tasting room sits close to other winery tasting rooms. We met Ethan Lindquist, son and winemaker, of Bob Lindquist, owner and winemaker. This is a true winemaking family as Bob’s wife Louisa Sawyer Lindquist is also a winemaker. Visitors will quickly recognize that the focus of Qupé is on the Rhone varieties. Qupé is the Chumash Native American word for “California poppy” which is also California’s state flower.
The Qupé tasting room actually consists of two rooms with the second room available for overflow crowds.
When Bob Lindquist started the winery in 1982 he believed that the Rhone varieties were the best varieties to plant in this region of California. Bob was one of the first to plant Syrah. He is recognized as one of the founders of the Rhone Rangers. The Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard is a biodynamic vineyard. The vineyard is located in the Enda Valley AVA of San Luis Obispo County. The vineyard has received Demeter Biodynamic and Stellar Organic certification. Forty acres are planted with Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, Albariño, Marsanne, Syrah, and Grenache. Today Qupé also sources grapes from Bien Nacido Vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley AVA and Ibarra-Young vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley AVA.
Today the winery produces approximately 40,000 cases that include nine different Syrahs. The wines are shipped nationally and exported to the UK, Japan, Denmark, Sweden and Canada. Qupé produces wines with three labels. Bob’s label is the Qupé label. His wife’s Louisa label is Verdad and his son’s Ethan label is Ethan. The Verdad wines are focused on Spanish grape varieties. Wine varieties include Tempranillo, Albarino, and Grenache.
Qupé White Wines
We noticed a stylistic logo for the winery originated with the renowned Stickley furniture maker. The design was slightly changed for the Qupé logo.
Ethan Santa Yenez Valley AVA Grenache Blanc 2012 was a straw color with a slight green tint. The wine offered floral and citrus with oak notes. The crisp finish had mild tannins. The wine was barrel fermented and aged on lees for one year. Marsanne Santa Maria Valley AVA Bien Nacido Vineyard 2012 was a blend of 80 percent Marsanne and 20 percent Roussanne. This yellow wine offered floral and citrus notes. The finish was crisp. This wine would be a great 3P (patio, pool, picnic) wine.
Qupé Red Wines
Qupé Grenache Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard Edna Valley AVA 2011 was a translucent red. The aroma and taste offered notes of floral and spice with a slight oak hint. The wine had mild tannins and a spicy finish. Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Maria Valley AVA 2011 was a light ruby color. The aroma and taste had pepper and plum notes. The finish offered bold chewy tannins with spice yielding to fruit. Qupé Syrah Edna Valley AVA Sawyer Lindquist Vineyards 2011 Sonnie’s was named for Ethan’s grandmother. This wine is a reserve wine chosen from the best of the best barrels. The wine offered pepper with some plum notes. The pepper predominated the taste. The finish had bold tannins.
Qupé Wine Clubs include shipments of four, six, and twelve bottles and the Magnum Club.
When visiting the small town of Los Olivos, be sure to make Qupé tasting room one of your stops.
Qupé
2963 Grand Avenue
Los Olivos, California Suite B
Article written June 2014
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