Beginning with the 1997 vintage, we produced our first reserve quality wines, which were released in 2000. In 2001, Sashi Moorman joined the Stolpman team as winemaker, and Alberto Antonini began consulting with our vineyard and winery operations. We began to focus our production on Syrah, Sangiovese and Roussanne, producing small lots of highly regarded wines.

In 2002, redevelopment of the vineyard began with major grafting of blocks in the vineyard, and in 2004 our first high density (1m x 1m) blocks was planted. We also used existing trellis and irrigation systems in some blocks to replant with tighter spacing. In 2005, a second high density block of Syrah was planted, and a 20 acre block was planted to Syrah, Grenache and Petite Syrah, using a layering technique to double the number of vines (each plant received two grafts one was trained to a fruit wire, while the second was trained to go underground and then up a training stake halfway to the next vine). In 2008, we are replanting 7 acres of Syrah using the semi high density method of doubling the number of vines while maintaining our trellis.

Current production is about 6,000 cases of Estate Grown Syrah, Hilltops Syrah, Angeli (our highest level Syrah), Sangiovese, La Croce (a barrel fermented blend of Syrah and Sangiovese) and L Avion (our Roussanne based white wine).