James Mantone James is the Winemaker, Vineyard Manager, and Founder of Syncline Wine Cellars. Originally from the Midwest, he graduated with a degree in Microbiology and Organic Chemistry before moving to Oregon to pursue winemaking. First hired as a “Cellar Rat” at Secret House Vineyards in 1995, James concentrated on furthering his education. The following year he moved to LaVelle Vineyards (Willamette Valley) and worked his way to winemaker of Custom Crush production. At LaVelle he was exposed to a wide variety of Varietals and Winemaking styles; from Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and Walla Walla Merlot to Northwest Sparkling wine. James currently consults for one other Washington winery. Poppie Mantone Poppie is the Assistant Winemaker and Saleswoman for Syncline Wine Cellars. Coming from seven years of world travel, university study and love for wine, Poppie moved to Oregon from Provincetown, MA in 1997 to become involved in the production of wine. She went on to work harvests at LaVelle, in the vineyards of neighboring wineries and practiced Biodynamic farming at Wintergreen Farm, OR. Ava Mantone Ava was born January 11, 2004. She is an integral member of our family business and our lives. Birth of Syncline Winery: James and Poppie Mantone. We met during the harvest of 1997 while working together at LaVelle Vineyards (Willamette Valley, Oregon). Shortly after, we had fallen madly in love, married and began plans for a new endeavor: a winery of our own. Four years later we relocated our home to the Columbia Gorge; where passion for Rhône wines led us to explore the emerging potential of vineyards in the Columbia Valley, Washington. We were inspired by early efforts of Syrah we has sampled from Washington wineries. Syncline’s first vintage consisted of 76 cases of Celilo Vineyards Pinot Noir from vines planted in 1972. The next year, production was increased to include Columbia Valley Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah. At the same time we began working with vineyards planted with Viognier, Grenache, Mourvedre, Roussanne, Cinsault, Counoise and more Syrah. We have since eliminated the Cabernet and Merlot (but kept our 1 acre block of Celilo Pinot Noir for the love of it) to concentrate on the Rhône Varietals. We have kept production under 3,000 cases annually to ensure that we stay intimate with each barrel and every vine. Naming of Syncline Wine Cellars Syncline Wine Cellars is located along the Columbia River in southern Washington State. Our location, in the eastern Columbia River Gorge gives us a unique place for growing wine grapes. Our estate vineyard, Steep Creek Ranch, is located on a southern slope on the very eastern edge of the new Columbia Gorge AVA. Directly west of the vineyard and winery is a series of 300-foot cliffs rising up into the surrounding mountains straight out of the Columbia River. Locally known as the “Coyote Wall Syncline” and to geologists as the “Bingen Syncline,” this dramatic feature gives the winery its name. It is at this point that the rainy western Columbia Gorge transitions to the semi-arid eastern Gorge. syn•cline \'sin-klīn\ n (1873) : a trough of stratified rock in which the beds dip toward each other from either side.

Sustainable, Organic and Biodynamic Practices Organic Grapes: Biodynamic: Practicing