2006 Sine Qua Non Hoodoo Man

Founded in 1994 by Manfred and Elaine Krankl in Ventura, on California's Central Coast, the winery is the epitome of an artisanal, cult winery. The husband-and-wife team makes mostly Rhone-style reds and whites in very limited quantities using such grapes as Syrah, Grenache, Pinot Noir, Roussanne, and Viognier. The couple pays meticulous attention to their winemaking and uses little or no fining or filtration. Robert M. Parker Jr. has called Sine Qua Non "one of the world's most creative wineries" and one that "is turning out world-class wines of extraordinary complexity and individuality. The Krankl husband-and-wife team remains wholly dedicated to the pursuit of perfection." Sine Qua Non is also unusual in that the Krankls like to give wild, sometimes outlandish names to their wines, and they often change wine names with each vintage. They have christened their wines with such names as "The Hussy" and "In Flagrante," and the labels generally are as distinctive as the wines.

Edna Valley AVA is within San Luis Obispo County, and within the large Central Coast AVA. Edna Valley became an AVA in 1982 and it includes 22,400 acres of extremely fertile land blessed with a long growing season. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the principal grapes, though Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Albarino, Grenache, Viognier, Merlot and Petite Sirah also are grown. Spanish missionaries were growing grape vines in the Edna Valley in the 18th century, but the valley’s modern wine industry took off in the 1970s. Today there are more than 50 Edna Valley wineries.