Stolpman Vineyards. If you don’t know the name, know this: The wines are solid and the family is a collection of amazing, and some of my favorite, people. I’ve considered Pete & Jessica Stolpman friends for years and will forever support whatever crazy things they’re up to.

Speaking of crazy, GDG, or God Damn Gamay, is one of my favourite things that they’ve done recently. Oh, the name? Funny story: Tom Stolpman, Pete’s father and founder of the vineyard, has always nagged for him to plant some Nebbiolo. When he discovered some new plantings and then realized they weren’t this esteemed Italian grape he screamed out “Is this God Damn Gamay"?!”. Worry not, he got 500 vines of Nebbiolo for his birthday a couple years ago and he actually likes the GDG! It’s a bright wine, made using carbonic maceration where the grapes are kept whole and the juice ferments inside the berry. This is how it’s done in Beaujolais, where Gamay is king.

Located in Ballard Canyon, Santa Barbara, the Stolpman family is leading the charge on everything from winemaking practices to ethical policy. Vineyard Manager Ruben was born in Jalisco, hired by the Stolpmans (who in 2006 built him and his family a house on the property and saw him through the immigration process.) They are constantly giving back to their community and their employees, including a wine, La Cuadrilla, whose proceeds go entirely back to Ruben's full-time/year-round crew.