Sine Qua Non (wine)

Sine Qua Non (commonly abbreviated as SQN) is a California winery that is known for its limited-production and expensive wines made from blends of Rhône grape varieties.[1][2] Each release is allocated and directly sold to a mailing list of customers. As of 2018, the wait to join the mailing list was approximately 9 years.[3] The winery is located in Ventura County and was founded in 1993 by Austrian Manfred Krankl, who emigrated to the US in 1980.[4][5]

The name of the winery, Sine Qua Non, is a Latin phrase translated as "absolutely indispensable".[6] The wines themselves are given frequently changing names such as Queen of Spades, Twisted & Bent, Imposter McCoy, The Bride, Poker Face, and Red Handed. The bottles are unusually shaped with distinctive labels featuring Manfred Krankl's own artwork.[2][7]

  1. ^ Asimov, Eric, The New York Times (November 2, 2005). "Where the Rhone Bends to the West". The New York Times.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b Molesworth, James, Wine Spectator (April 30, 2000). "Sine Qua Non, A fox in the cult wine henhouse".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "SQN Email". WineBerserkers. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-03.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference vent was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Manfred Krankl: The Innovation Interview". www.brulteco.com. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Krankl Manfred". wein.plus. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
  7. ^ Prial, Frank J., The New York Times (September 9, 1998). "Wine Talk; Newsletter Points the Way to Rare Buys". The New York Times.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)