Syncline Winery

My favorite winery in the Columbia Gorge. Anytime, we visit the in-​laws this is a must stop wine spot. The wines are top notch and quite sensational! Mourvèdre, Grenache Blanc, Boushey Syrah, Carignan-​Grenache blend, and Picpoul are just some of the wines I love. The brilliance isn’t that they just do a few wines well, all of their wines are produced amazingly well. That’s mofokin talent.

I have spent the last few months doing quite a bit of Columbia Gorge wine tasting and I think the fact that I picked Syncline as the winery to become a member of speaks volumes about how I feel about (1) their wine (2) their AMAZING winery.
Mourvedre, Mourvedre, Mourvedre! I just can’t get enough of it. I have two bottle sitting in my kitchen currently and I would be surprised if the make it past the weekend. All of their wines are impressive and I can’t imagine anyone leaving a tasting feeling disappointed. Both times I have done a tasting here I was poured something extra that wasn’t on the list, which made us feel a little special and I realized they know how to treat their cliental. As with most of the wineries in the Gorge, they are a very friendly and welcoming crew.
Their tasting room is hidden off the road, but a very charming, secluded area. Plenty of outdoor seating with water misters and hammocks and sometimes food truck vendors, but a cool indoor area as well (it gets HOT in the Gorge in midsummer).
I don’t trust a winery/​tasting room that does not have a dog… and they don’t disappoint in that area either! Super friendly dogs roaming around all the time and I love it!
I can’t wait for my first wine pick up as a member!

Our first time to the Lyle wine area, and this was my favorite winery stop. A gorgeous sunny day and the vibe was casual, friendly and the wine was awesome. We took a seat in the comfy adirondack chairs in the grass right next to the grape vines and a lovely young lady delivered our tastings right to us! We had great conversation with other tasters and met the resident dog, Chico. A little slice of heaven. And of course we joined the wine club :)

Every time I drive through this area on my way to or from the coast I stop here for fantastic wines, friendly tasting rooms and beautiful vistas.

I love this winery! We have been coming to the Hood River area for five years and been to almost all of them. This is the best in terms of a beautiful location, great wines, friendly staff and generous pours. It’s a bit of a hike but there are three other very good vineyards in the area so you can make a very nice afternoon. They are also kid friendly — games set up on the lawn and they brought juice to the kiddos.

Some wineries are good, this one is great! Hang out in a hammock while gazing over the orchard with a glass of amazing wine in hand– perfect! The first winery to ever turn me into a rose fan– now that’s saying something as I’m very partial to reds.
Just pulled out an a 2005 Horse Heaven Hills Syrah– too bad I didn’t save more!

We discovered Syncline Wines in 2003 — yes, that many years ago. We lived in Phoenix at the time and were visiting the Portland area — did a wine tasting day in the Gorge. Back then the tasting room was in a very small location in Bingen — but even then the wines were outstanding. Lots has changed — their tasting room is now in Lyle at a beautiful setting — amongst the vineyard, garden and assorted chickens and a couple of dogs. The one thing that hasn’t changed is their quality of wines. New varietals have been added, a few have been dropped (they used to do both Merlot and Cab); absolutely LOVE the new varietals they have gotten into.
James and Poppie are the best and we’re very fond of Sara in the tasting room too. They can get crowded on weekends and holiday so just be prepared. We have had our wine refrigerator well stocked with Syncline Wines since 2003 — that hasn’t changed. So long as James and Poppie continue with the quality of wines they have consistently produced, we will continue to be loyal customers. We’re really fortunate to live in Washington State now and are able to visit the winery any time we want to!

One of my favorite winery experiences in Washington State.
Tucked into old oaks in the Columbia Gorge, Syncline is a relaxed new-​school winery with an old-​school feel. Vines, aged oak trees, old wood barns, family-​farming, wood fired pizzas, friendly winery dogs, kiddos running around smiling, hammocks, bocci ball, oxidized metal patio chairs, and some darned good wine.
We tasted seven wines for $ 5, and their very reasonable tasting fee is waved with a Unilocal check in (AND waved if you went to Maryhill Museum that day and can show your receipt, OR waved if you buy a great bottle of wine here. Seriously, you can’t loose.)
We apparently just missed Seattle chef impressario, Matt Dillon (the winery bragged) who came up for the weekend and this very morning made breakfast for the wine maker (lucky!) in exchange for staying here (lucky Matt.) I forgot to ask what they had for breakfast. I would make breakfast too for the privilege of staying here. Gesh!
Beyond the name dropping and the great foodie tie-​ins, the thing is just that Syncline is simply, setting-​wise, one of the most beautiful, family-​friendly, low-​key (complete with winery dog!) Washington wineries I have visited –and I’ve visited a few. A local Hood River pizza spot had pulled out their portable wood fired pizza oven and was holding court, one of Syncline’s remarkable reds was selling out (got a last few bottles) and the warm breeze was blowing through the oak trees as our daughter rocked in a hammock. Did I mention the gourmet smores we had for dessert in the wood fired oven (thanks to local wood-​fired Solstice Pizza being on-​site the day we visited)? My kiddo grilled me to verify that I was giving this place five stars. Answer: yes!

Went there last year and loved the setting. Went there today w 10 girlfriends and was treated very rude and basically told to leave because we hadn’t made a reservation. Their wines are more expensive than other places with equally good wines. Go to Ani Che, Marchesi, or Domaine Pouillon instead.

We stopped here at the suggestion of a local Oregonian and did not regret the experience. The wines are well balanced, flavorful and have a long finish. The price point to quality I thought was fare particularly considering the quality and significant increased prices by some WA wineries. Nicole was a great help, very knowledgeable of the wines, the grapes used (which some are obscure), wine maker and vineyards they procure from; her enthusiasm for the product made it a wonderful experience.

Time for our quarterly wine pick up :) This time we went with a large group of friends and we were so surprised to see how crowded this place was on a late Sunday afternoon. There were so many people even the winery tasting room was warm:)
What I love about this winery aside from its amazing wine is it’s rustic atmosphere. Just think about standing in an old rustic barn amongst casks and casks and casks as well as vats of wine — you can smell the wine — you’re surrounded by wine — and you’re drinking wine with your friends. Divine!
James Mantone is the Winemaker, Vineyard Manager, and Founder of Syncline Wine Cellars– and what a nice guy he is. Very unassuming, quick with a smile — I loved the fact that he was drinking green tea the day that we were there. Poppie his lovely wife is the general manager of the winery and just as kind and we found her to be very laid back and quiet. :)
James and Poppie create Rhôné wines that I feel are stand outs amongst their peers.
The Single Vineyard Syrah and Mourvedre are exceptional. The Rhôné style blends are stunning with grace and personality. White whines are outstanding.
These are the wines at their winery that I have tasted–
Grenache * Carignan — this wasn’t my favorite but if you’re adventurous I think you’d love it. I believe that this bottling is very limited.
Grüner Veltliner — All I can say about this wine is are you kidding me this is amazing!!!
Fresh lemon/​lime, barely ripe pineapple, honeydew melon and green apple flavors with a hint of white pepper in the nose.
Marsanne– I’m not a fan of mineral finishes but I did like this one. There’s appleblossom and honeysuckle as well as honey pear and Mandarin going on here.
Mourvèdre — I really didn’t know what was in this one because there’s so much going on I just pulled it from their website– Layers of dried plum, cassis, clove, coffee bean, black pepper, tar and savauge character are complimented by a bright finish. Both Red Mountain and Columbia Valley offerings are described here.
Picpoul — This was interesting and intriguing because I know there’s the aroma of lemon in this wine and other citrus.
Pinot Noir — The opulent nose starts with cherries and strawberries mingling with morel mushroom and fresh cracked black pepper. It’s a fascinating blend.
Rosé — I think every home should have a case of this on hand — it’s just a lovely light fragrant wine to begin any sort of dinner party with.
Scintillation — a sparkling wine which is so delicious I would bathe in it.
Subduction Red — LOVE IT.
Syrah like it :)
And last but not least their tasting room manager is delightful– and they have the worlds friendliest dogs at the winery!

Decent wines but for the price I felt it could be better. My friend went there before and said he liked the wines but the person pouring the tastings wasn’t that pleasent. This time my wife and I went along with him and they were fine. I was not blown away. Part of the charm of going to a winery tasting room s to talk the winemaker or the staff who are passionate of their wines and wine making process. This was just ok. With all the great wineries in the Northwest it might not be good enough to be ok.

I have been visiting this vineyard/​tasting room for 4 years. This is one of my favorites on the Washington side of the Columbia River. Their Subduction Red is a very nice and well balanced red wine. Nice to drink by itself of with a meal. I also love the way they «cork» their red wines. It’s a glass stopper, so cool. They have added a few more picnic tables, which is good because the tasting room was so crowded this time. They were not tasting their new sparkling wine, but I bought it anyways so I can check it out. Lets hope it is good.

When wine savvy friends visit, I take them to Syncline. The wine speaks for itself, and the drive there is always outstanding. Thank you, Syncline, for being reliably amazing.

I love this winery. I have been about 3 times now, and here’s what I have to say:
–all the wine is delicious. all of it. every single bottle I’ve tasted. all tasty.
–it’s a beautiful location.
–the staff is friendly, and knowledgeable but not intimidating.
–there is bocci ball, and picnic tables, and a hammock. a perfect place to go and buy a bottle and relax with friends.
–the dog is sweet.

James and Poppi Mantone make some of the finest wines on the West coast ! The key word «responsibility». They care about their environment and your health. Their product is made clean and unadulterated. The grapes grown for their wines have had their direct input on how they were grown and what was put on them. The winery concentrates on Rhone style wines. Big red Syrah, and a wonderful white floral viognier, along with their other reds and whites, make them a winery must stop when visiting the area. A trip to the beautiful Columbia River Gorge, with views of Mt. Hood don’t hurt a bit either.

Excellent wines, charming winery. The tasting room is in the winery. The hard part was limiting myself to only two bottles. The Chateauneuf style Cuvee Elena is fantastic

Really amazing wines, great people, lovely location. Definitely worth the travel to experience, you won’t be sorry.

Best wine we tried down in the Columbia River Gorge area. Don’t miss stopping here if you’re in the area and looking for wine.

One of the best wineries in WA state! Lovely, small winery in the middle of nowhere.