THE STORY
After our American Wine Society Monterey Chapter events, we sometimes go to dinner to continue the party. In January, we had a delicious meal at Anton & Michel where I ordered today’s wine to share with our table. Everyone loved it and my table mates paid for it! It doesn’t get any better than that!
THE WINERY
“Qupe was founded in 1982, along Foxen Canyon Road, in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley. Amazingly enough this was right next door to where Andrew Murray Vineyards was founded less than a decade later. Qupe’s founder, Bob Lindquist, is a giant in the world of wine, where he is a pioneer in every sense of the word. Qupe’s founding in 1982, paved the way for our own founding in 1990. Bob loved Syrah before anyone else. He quickly grew Qupe into a worldwide phenom of a Rhone focused wine brand that also crafted delicate and delicious Chardonnay. Bob piorneered hillside sites, from cool climate appellations, with sandy, calcareous and rocky soils. Andrew Murray Vineyards grew up in the shadow of this legendary and historic brand.
“By way of tenacity and some good fortune, Andrew was able to purchase the Qupe brand and all assets (including an amazing array of library wines) in October of 2024. Andrew and his family and his very capable winegrowing team have brought the brand home, to where it started on Foxen Canyon Road, when it was just a couple of barrels and glint in Bob’s eyes. All of us at Andrew Murray Vineyards are extremely excited about the future. We look forward to righting the ship and bringing Qupe back to its former glory by focusing on the brand’s core values of sustainabilty, quality, and affordability. The current array of wines are absolutely delcious. We invite you to seek them out in your home markets and stores and restaurant wine lists. The wines are rich and nuanced and thoughtfully crafted. If you are a fan of Andrew Murray Vineyards, then we are confident that you will also enjoy the entire range of Qupe wine.
THE WINES
Today, I am showcasing just one Qupé wine. This is the first Qupé wine I have presented in Decanting Monterey. Winery notes come from the label, their tasting sheet or their website, unless otherwise noted. Any errors are mine and mine alone; however, as a general rule, I do not correct any typos from the winery’s website.
2019 Qupé Syrah, Bien Nacido Hillside Estate, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, ~$50 (#1756)
Pure Winely Notes: “Enticing aromas of star anise, forest floor, and black licorice together with perfumed violets and dark ripe raspberry. Flavors of juicy blackberry and sweet cinnamon and nutmeg evolve to subtle roasted coffee with a sweet vanilla finish.”
My Review: Inky in the glass. As dark as a Petite Sirah. Intense dark crushed mixed berries in the nose -someone should make an incense out of this wine. Smooth palate with dark berries and some smokey/earthy notes on the finish. Our whole table liked this wine. January 2026
THE TASTING ROOM
From their website:
“To visit Andrew Murray Vineyards is to experience a narrative of history, legacy and ardent passion. Your visit will be an intimate glimpse into the beauty and bounty of the Santa Ynez Valley Wine Country. Delve into the terroir. Soak in the natural surroundings. Explore some of the finest and most exclusive Rhone driven varietals California has to offer.
“We aspire to make your visit as beautiful as our wines and invite you to join our journey. Experience a destination rich with heritage, a space to celebrate shared connections and the essence of sensorial exploration. We highly recommend reservations for all guests with priority going to our Club Members. We appreciate that you may find yourself at our Estate without a reservation, we host walk-ins on a first fome first served policy, as space allows. Welcome to Andrew Murray Vineyards.”
Located at 5249 Foxen Canyon Road Los Olivos CA 93441 and open 11-5 daily.
© Decanting Monterey 2026
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