Wine Wednesday: Cline Cellars

By: Cecily Gamba

Today is Wine Wednesday, and today we want to focus on one of the wonderful Rhône-style producing wineries here in Sonoma Valley: Cline Cellars.

Starting in 1982 in Oakley, California, Fred Cline, an original Rhône Ranger, began first making wine with original plantings of Mourvèdre, Zinfandel, and Carignane. In 1989, the winery was moved to a 350-acre horse farm in Sonoma County, where Fred and his wife Nancy began planting a number of Rhône varietals, including Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, and Syrah. Since then, they have expanded their plantings and varietal diversity. Today, they continue to own and operate as a family run business.

Cline is known for the wines they make from their “Ancient Vines” planted in Contra Costa County. These are some of the oldest and rarest grapevines in California, some over 100 years old. No matter what vineyard, the Clines are also known for their commitment to sustainability. They are extremely conscious of the interconnected systems in the vineyard, and nurture and support these systems through their Green String Farming methods. This care and commitment is reflected in the outstanding quality of the expansive portfolio of Cline wines.

Try it at the girl & the fig!

Cline Cellars, 2017 Ancient Vines Mourvèdre