Sine Qua Non is one
of California's most famous wine producers. Based just north of Los
Angeles in Ventura County, and with most of its vineyards in Santa
Barbara, it eschews the usual image of top California wine as being only
from Napa Valley. That is not the only thing eschewed at Sine Qua Non –
the same wine is rarely made more than once, turning the idea of the
American icon wine on its head.
The cult winery
specializes in Rhône grape varieties, with most of the red wines based
on Syrah and Grenache. White wines are typically based on Marsanne,
Roussanne and Viognier and are also modelled after Rhône wines. While
most of Sine Qua Non's vineyards are located in Santa Barbara, the home
vineyard (and the winery) is located in Oak View. Many of the wines are
labeled under the more generic California and Central Coast AVAs, rather
than the specific AVAs the vineyards are located in, giving more
freedom when it comes to blending.
Sine Qua Non's first
vintage was 1994, as Austrian-born winemaker Manfred Krankl released
three barrels of Syrah as "Queen of Spades" with a label he had designed
himself. Previously, Krankl had made wines with other winemakers –
including the "Black and Blue" wine with Havens Cellars and several
wines with John Alban of Alban Vineyards. After releasing Queen of
Spades, Krankl sent a bottle to Robert Parker, who promptly gave the
wine 95 points – then the highest he'd given any American wine based on a
Rhône variety
