Located in the Columbia Gorge AVA, which straddles Oregon and is at the westernmost edge of Washington State's Columbia Valley AVA, Syncline is a limited-edition, small-batch winery that maintains a strong vision of producing world-class wines through innovative winemaking, while also taking into consideration the environment in every aspect of its biodynamic vineyards.
It has a vibrant ruby color and rich aromas of pomegranate, iris flower and wild red currant.
A well-balanced wine with lively red fruit flavours.
Fermentation with the stems produces elegant tannins, resulting in a wine that is rich, full of vitality, has a long finish and is pure in expression.
Steep Creek Ranch is our home vineyard and our Gamay Noir is grown on the south slope above the winery.
All our vineyards are based on biodynamic and organic philosophies and practices.
All grapes were hand-picked between 20th and 27th September and 15% underwent whole-cluster carbonic fermentation in French concrete cube tanks.
After five days, the remaining 85% is destemmed and added to the top of the fermenting wine or fermented in open oak tanks.
Wild yeasts are used for fermentation, using both pump-over and foot punch-down.
The free-run juice was kept separate for maturation in French concrete cubes.
Bottled in August 2023.
Syncline is a geological term that refers to a section of rock where horizontally deposited strata are bent by lateral pressure to form a winding valley of rock. The name comes from the Coyote Wall syncline, which can be seen from the winery.
Owners and winemakers James and Poppy Manton's winery and vineyards are located in the Columbia Gorge AVA, straddling Washington and Oregon.
They were also the founding members of AVA in 2004.
The Columbia Gorge is divided into a cool, rain-rich western region and a semi-arid desert eastern region, and they use grapes from this special region as well as grapes from long-established, top-notch growers in Washington State.
Syncline was founded in 1999 by a couple who were making Pinot Noir in Oregon, with just 76 cases, and their winemaking has remained unchanged ever since, with each wine being delicate and elegant.
The winery uses biodynamic farming methods in its own vineyards and has a strong vision of "continuing to produce innovative wines that are environmentally friendly and can be used on a global scale," earning it a high reputation as a limited production winery.