Poppie and James met during the harvest of 1997 while working together in the cellar at a custom crush house in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Shortly after, they had fallen madly in love, married, and began plans for a new endeavor: a winery of their own.
They relocated their home to the Columbia River Gorge; passion for Rhône wines led them to explore the emerging potential of vineyards in Washington State.
Inspired by the early efforts of Rhone and Burgundy varietals sampled from Washington vineyards, Syncline’s first vintage in 1999 consisted of 76 cases of Celilo Vineyard Pinot Noir from vines planted in 1973. The next year, production was increased to include Syrah and Grenache from Eastern Washington. At the same time, they began working with growers to plant Mourvedre, Cinsault, Counoise, and Carignan.
They purchased land ideal for planting vines in 2003 and began building and planting what is now 11 acres of producing vineyards and a boutique size winemaking facility.
They have kept production under 4,000 cases annually to ensure intimacy with each barrel and every vine.
With Horse Heaven Hill's lush flavors and texture, they have created a wine that offers violets, black plum, currant, juicy cherry and savory flavors with hints of black pepper and wet stone. Ruby color, a lively, layered mouthfeel and brilliant mouthwatering finish complement the beautiful aromas. This wine is approachable now and will age gracefully for many years.
