Sine Qua Non (wine)

Sine Qua Non (also known as SQN) is a California cult winery known for its Rhône style blends, a tendency to avoid repetition, and a very limited production of wine that is highly difficulty to obtain.cite web |last= Asimov |first= Eric, "The New York Times" |date= November 2, 2005 |url= http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/02/dining/02wine.html |title=Where the Rhone Bends to the West ] cite web|last= Molesworth |first= James, "Wine Spectator" |date= April 30, 2000 |url= http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Archives/Show_Article/0,1275,2599,00.html |title= Sine Qua Non, A fox in the cult wine henhouse ] The winery is located in Ventura County, within the Central Coast AVA.cite web|last= Brown |first= Corie, "Los Angeles Times" |date= July 19, 2006 |url= http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jul/19/food/fo-wine19 |title= Syrah, at home on the coast ]

The wines have been titled with names such as Queen of Spades, Twisted & Bent, Imposter McCoy, The Bride Poker Face and Red Handed, and the bottles come uncommonly shaped with distinctive labels featuring own artwork. [cite web |last= Prial |first= Frank J., "The New York Times" |date= September 9, 1998 |url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04EEDE133EF93AA3575AC0A96E958260 |title= Wine Talk; Newsletter Points the Way to Rare Buys ]

History

Founded in 1994 by Manfred Krankl and his wife Elaine, began making his own wines in 1994 to supply the restaurant Campanile, initially with an output of approximately 100 cases but by 1996 the production had increased to 2,000 cases. Sine Qua Non's Syrahs were among the first American Syrahs to create significant interest and trading volume in the worldwide wine auction market. From the second quarter of 1999 to early 2008, the value of SQN wines at auctions appreciated by 163% in contrast to the 128% appreciation rate during the same period of other collectible wines listed on the "Wine Spectator" Auction Index.cite web|last= Siudut |first= John, "Wine Spectator" |date= March 26, 2008 |url= http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Features/0,1197,4308,00.html |title= Spotlight on: Sine Qua Non Syrah ]

Sine Qua Non's winery has been described by Robert Parker as "a facility that looks like a "Mad Max" movie set".cite web|last= Parker |first= Robert, "Business Weekly"| title=The Central Coast's Rhône Rangers |url= http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_43/b4006112.htm | date= October 23, 2006 ] Sourcing fruit from a wide variety of growers from year to year as Krankl follows his preferences, has caused the winery to never make exactly the same wine twice, on which Krankl has said, "People buy Sine Qua Non. They don’t seem to give a toot where it’s from".

In collaboration with Austrian winemaker Alois Kracher Manfred and Elaine Krankl have also produced sweet wines under the label "Mr. K" (after the surnames of the two winemakers). [cite web |last= Asimov |first= Eric, "The New York Times" |date= December 10, 2007 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/10/world/10kracher.html |title=Alois Kracher, Austrian Winemaker and Advocate, Is Dead at 48 ] Krankl announced that this program would end with the release of the 2006 vintage due to the untimely passing of Kracher.

The red wines have typically included the grape varieties of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and a whites made from Roussanne, Viognier and Chardonnay. Sine Qua Non also produced a Pinot Noir through the 2005 vintage, but has discontinued that program. In certain vintages, the winery has released a sweet white wine or a rosé wine.

The annual production of Sine Qua Non averages convert|3500|winecase|hL.cite web|last= Kettmann |first= Matt, "Ventana Monthly" |title= Sine Qua Non |url= http://www.ventanamonthly.com/article.php?id=220&IssueNum=19 |date= December 1, 2007 ]

References