Cline Cellars is a family-owned and operated winery in Sonoma, California, built on a passion for winemaking and rooted in respect for the land.
Fred Cline started Cline Family Cellars in 1982 in Oakley, California, making his first vintages from original plantings of Mourvèdre, Zinfandel, and Carignane, some of which dated back to the 1880s.
In 1989, Fred purchased a 350-acre horse farm in Carneros and moved the winery to Sonoma County. As one of the original Rhône Rangers, he began planting varietals that included a number of vineyards dedicated to Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne.
Since those first plantings, Fred and his wife Nancy have continued to plant vineyards throughout Sonoma County, expanding to include more classic varieties like Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Chardonnay.
"Our aim is to be stewards of the land, not only through our natural and sustainable Green String farming methods, but through an awareness of bringing interconnected systems into harmony. We are committed to nurturing the land and creating wines that reflect the bounty of these complex and perfect ecosystems."
- Fred Cline
Cline North Coast Viognier
Viognier can be a challenging grape to grow; it buds early and is susceptible to frost. The grape has a thick skin and benefits from a long ripening period to develop full flavours. Vines bask in the sun during the day, but experience cool night-time temperatures contributing to the wine's full-bodied weight and pleasant acidity.
Viognier grows best in the sunny climes of North and Central Coast and Paso Robles where the temperatures are moderated by cool nights, which helps to preserve Viognier’s acidity.
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Cline North Coast Viognier 2020
California
VINTAGES# 128421, $17.95 SHOP »»
Cline Viognier shows juicy tropical fruit, fresh apricot and notes of mandarin orange and grapefruit. It is luscious and full-bodied with a slight crisp acidity.
"Lightly floral and attractively fruity, this deceptively full-bodied wine tastes refreshing, almost delicate, and will be a great choice for lunches, picnics and and cocktail hour." Best Buy. Score: 88 Pts. - Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast, October 1, 2021.
Enjoy with roasted chicken, or creamy and buttery cheeses.
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Last week, Good Food Revolution's Jamie Drummond spoke with Hilary Cline of Cline Cellars and Director of Winemaking and Viticulture, Tom Gendall. They tasted the newly released Cline North Coast Viognier 2020:
"Sourcing fruit from some of the cooler regions leads to a wine that while being undeniably unctuous, has considerable verve on the palate, hitting that rather elusive sweet spot between ripe Viognier phenolics and surprisingly brisk acidity. Even at 14.5% alcohol, it’s not top-heavy, which speaks to the considerable winemaking skills of Tom Gendall, at the helm of all things in the vineyards and winery since 2016.
"Aromatically it’s full of benchmark apricot, canned pear, baked pineapple, and rose petal. The corresponding palate is weighted, honeyed, and rich, texturally pleasing without ever straying into “too much” territory." - Jamie Drummond, Good Food Revolution.
Watch the full interview HERE »»
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Farmhouse Wines was born out of the desire to not only create clean, herbicide and chemical free wines, but also to teach future generations about what it means to farm with nature, not against it.
Farmhouse takes its name from the school house located at Green String Farm in Petaluma, California. It serves as the library and study room for conscientious students from around the globe seeking to learn the Green String method of sustainable farming.
This method of “beyond sustainable” farming, was developed by Fred Cline and Bobby Cannard, two kindred spirits who believe that study and observation of nature can lead to balanced and better farming practices.
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Farmhouse California Red
California
LCBO#: 15751, $13.05 SHOP »»
Farmhouse Wines are part of the Cline portfolio of wines from Sonoma, California. The winemaker uses blending to highlight the best fruit and does not over-oak the wines. A smooth blend of Zinfandel, Shiraz and Carignan, with cedar, chocolate, cassis and toast notes.
Serve with charcuterie, appetizers or a cheese board.
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