2024 Qupe Chardonnay Santa Barbara - Biodynamic

For more than 40 years, Qupé has produced cool-climate Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County. Originally pioneering California specialist, it built its reputation on Syrah and Chardonnay.

Founded by Bob Lindquist in 1982 on Foxen Canyon Road in the Santa Ynez Valley, Qupé became a benchmark winery known for cool-climate hillside sites, sandy calcareous soils and elegant Chardonnay. Andrew Murray acquired Qupé in Oct 2024, and its library of wines, bringing the brand back to its origins with a renewed focus on sustainability, quality and value. His vineyard-led approach favours cool, breezy east-west valleys, careful site selection and minimal intervention with founder Bob Lindquist’s legacy remainining central.

This Chardonnay blends two Santa Barbara sites: 60% from 30-year-old Santa Maria vines, adding pineapple and orange-marmalade richness, and 40% from western Santa Rita Hills, bringing salty citrus, lemon-lime skin and mineral notes. Night-harvested, whole-cluster pressed and cold-settled for 24–48 hours, then fermented and aged on lees for 9–12 months in French Burgundy barrels, 15% new. Partial malolactic fermentation is blocked for freshness before racking, blending, resting and on-site bottling.

Tasting Note: James Suckling “Embracing with warm spices and stone fruit, this chardonnay shows ripe persimmon and grilled apricots alongside toasty vanilla, baked yellow apples and candied lemons.”

Food Match: Goat cheese, oysters, shellfish, sushi, sautéed fish, pâté, vegetable risotto, or moules frites. Drink now – 2030