‘We’re bringing it back home,’ says Los Olivos vintner on his new acquisition
Andrew Murray, who has been making wine in Santa Barbara County for over three decades under his eponymous wine project, Andrew Murray Vineyards, has acquired Qupe, a historically significant brand known for its cool-climate Syrah and Chardonnay.
Qupe will join an impressive and diverse range of wines, including the Rhône-inspired Andrew Murray Vineyards and Bordeaux-inspired E11even Wines by Andrew Murray. All of Murray’s projects share a common theme: They draw fruit from the breezy, cool climate East-West valleys along California’s Central Coast, including Santa Maria Valley, Los Alamos Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Ynez Valley, Arroyo Grande Valley, and Edna Valley. Murray, a cool-climate Syrah enthusiast, believes that all great wine is made in the vineyard, especially in coastal regions.
When pioneering winemaker Bob Lindquist founded Qupe in 1982, in the Santa Maria Valley AVA of Santa Barbara County, he was still working at Zaca Mesa Winery, just down the road on the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. In the years that followed, Lindquist transformed Qupe into a national leader in producing restrained, beautiful, and long-lived cool-climate Syrah and Chardonnay.
Murray believes the brand has finally found its rightful home.
“I just tasted through the Qupe Syrahs in barrel, and they’re so fresh, balanced, and a touch more concentrated,” he said.”Qupe has resonated with consumers on a national level for decades. I used to be haunted by their success because they would often out-perform us in the market. So, to say it’s an honor to now own Qupe, a legacy brand, is the understatement of all understatements. We’re confident we can carry Qupe’s reputation for balanced, delicious wines into the future,while adding our own creative expression to this inimitable wine brand.”
Murray’s own career trajectory has been equally impressive. Shortly after founding his wine brand in 1990, his wines became darlings of the critics, with Murray even appearing on the cover of Food & Wine Magazine. From there, the Andrew Murray collection of wines grew in prominence both culturally and critically. Notably, Jeb Dunnuck selected Murray’s Watch Hill Syrah as one of his Top 100 wines of 2023, while Antonio Galloni of Vinous said in his Santa Barbara report earlier this year, “These new releases from Andrew Murray are among the most impressive I tasted for this report. The 2022 Syrahs … are especially brilliant. I was struck by the deep personality and site character of these wines. As good or great as the top selections are, the Tous les Jours Syrah is one of the great values in wine.”
Early in his career, storied wine critic Robert Parker praised Murray in The Wine Advocate, writing, “Andrew Murray Vineyards is one of the shining stars in the Santa Barbara firmament. Extremely low yields … and a dedication to hillside vineyards, ripe fruit, and non-interventionist winemaking have propelled this estate to the top echelon of the Rhone Ranger hierarchy. Production is small, … but these wines are well worth seeking out.”
Murray intends to preserve the core sensibilities of Qupe: site-driven wines of balance, made thoughtfully with minimal intervention, and always with the customer in mind. “I am inspired by vintage variation and wines of terroir, as Bob was. But, just like him, I’m also very aware of the customer’s need for consistency and quality,” he said. “Qupe has always been a brand one can rely on for wines of pleasurable restraint, and I don’t intend on changing that.”
Chad Melville, of Melville in Sta. Rita Hills, a leading producer in Santa Barbara County, considers Murray’s acquisition a boon for California wines.
“Andrew’s a methodical guy; he thinks a lot before he makes a move, and when he does, it’s considered and successful,” Melville said. “Andrew and I both have such admiration for Bob Lindquist and his legacy surrounding Syrah. I remember when Andrew got into the business back in the ’90s and the foresight he had about California Rhones. Now he owns Qupe, one of the most iconic Rhone brands in the country. I’m so proud of him for acquiring a brand he’s loved from afar for so long. It’s definitely in the right hands.”
Murray took ownership of Qupe on Oct. 2 and has already secured much of the same fruit sources for 2024 and beyond, while also scheduling his first Qupe bottling in early November. “We’re bringing it back home, just a stone’s throw from where Bob conceived and crafted his first vintage of Qupe over 40 years ago. I am deeply moved and excited about the future of Qupe.”
Pronounced Kyoo-pay, Qupe is the Chumash word for the poppy, the official flower of California, and produces 20,000 cases a year. The brand’s portfolio focuses primarily on Syrah and Chardonnay and is distributed nationally. Historically, Qupe has had a strong presence both on- and off-premises, performing well with consumers who enjoy wines made to accompany a meal. With Qupe’s continued relevance and ubiquity, Murray plans to explore new markets across the nation.
To learn more about Andrew Murray Vineyards and Qupe, please visit andrewmurrayvineyards.com/qupe.
Feature image: Los Olivos winemaker Andrew Murray, seen here picking grapes on his vineyard, has acquired the historically significant wine brand Qupe. Photo by Craft & Cluster.
