Sine Qua Non
A cult Ventura County estate making rare, allocation-only Rhône-style Syrah and Grenache wines, each vintage released under a different name and label.
About Sine
Sine Qua Non is one of California's most sought-after cult producers, founded in 1994 by Austrian-born Manfred Krankl and his wife Elaine. Working from a home facility in Oak View, Ventura County, the Krankls built their reputation on small-lot, Rhône-inspired wines, principally Syrah and Grenache, that routinely earn top critical scores and trade far above release price on the secondary market. A defining quirk is that every release carries a new proprietary name and original artwork by Krankl himself, so the wines change identity from vintage to vintage. Production averages roughly 3,500 cases a year, sold almost entirely through a closed mailing list with a long waiting period. The combination of tiny volumes, idiosyncratic presentation, and consistent acclaim has made Sine Qua Non a benchmark for the modern American cult wine and a fixture of fine-wine auctions.
Flagship wines
- Sine Qua Non Syrah (proprietary-named bottlings)
- Sine Qua Non Grenache (proprietary-named bottlings)
Editorial notes
Sold via a long-waitlisted mailing list; each vintage uses a different name and label, so identify wines by vintage and varietal rather than a fixed brand name.