Syncline Winery

Had the pleasure to visit this vineyard on a sunny Easter Sunday, and I became a club member immediately. Todays tasting was all reds and each one was unique .Very impressive ! Cody did a great job explaining each one and taking care of us .

This winery is a true gem! offering an unparalleled experience that blends exceptional wines, knowledgeable friendly staff, and an enchanting setting. Nestled in the picturesque gorge it's a true standout among its peers. The staff exudes warmth and expertise. Radiating a genuine passion for the craft of winemaking and Viticulture. Their knowledge extends beyond the bottles themselves. Delving into the intricate details of biodynamic farming practices and the unique terroir of the Columbia River Gorge. A story that even seasoned industry professionals like myself found enlightening. The wines showcase unique varietals. Many you may have never heard of. The owners James and Poppy are passionate about creating wines that help bring out the best qualities in the grapes. This is a testament to the winery's unwavering pursuit of excellence. The PicPoul was one of my favorites. It has lively citrus notes and a crisp clean finish that you'll want to sip on a patio all summer long. The winery's grounds are enchanting. A beautiful garden oasis nestled between vineyards and tucked away from the strong gorge winds. I'd recommend securing a reservation for the full experience. They do take walk-ins but you may miss a spot at a tasting table as they can fill up fast. You can always go to enjoy a glass or bottle in the cozy Adorandac chairs. Add on a charcuterie board and you'll have a magic picnic experience. A must-visit destination for those seeking a tranquil escape into the world of viticulture while visiting the gorge.

What a beautiful gem of a winery! Secluded, thoughtful, beautiful property doing good work. Reservations required, so plan ahead. Also most of the seating is outdoors near one of many fire pits so dress warm in all but summer months.

Wine tasting was a unique experience. We were seated at a table in a beautiful garden and the host would walk by us every 10 minutes to pour us the next wine. Out of the 6 wines we tasted, there were only 2 that we really liked. Tasting were $25 and tasting fee waved of you buy 4 bottles. Bottles were $30-65 each. Not dog friendly. Overall a nice experience but not for the price. Outside food allowed

We have toured/tasted at wineries all around the world & Synchline was definitely our fave experience! A true hidden treasure, and a peaceful, beautiful garden environment. The staff was wonderful, from the cheerful greeting by Lauren, followed by, Randi, our knowledgeable tasting server. Cody made sure we were treated well & had an enjoyable experience. The Picpoul was our fave white, don't miss this one.

Thank You to everyone at Syncline for a thoroughly delightful evening last Saturday, the 8th of October. Lauren was great! Everyone was so friendly. Soul Prophet was outstanding. (We did our best to clap as loud as we could.) We found a wonderful spot in the garden and loved sharing it with bees, moths, hummingbirds close; acorn woodpeckers in the nearby oaks. Your attention to detail and accommodations were just wonderful; we are so glad that the weather made for a joyful, (Busy!!! for you folks) evening for all. We will be back!

Haven’t been in 4 years. Stopped by today and caught some pretentious or tired crankiness. We left and not buying anymore more Syncline wines. :-(

I have been to this winery on three separate occasions. I have never been greeted warmly or made to feel at home. Most of my interactions with staff have left me feeling like I shouldn’t have bothered them, or I’m just not cool enough to be there. As for prices and the wine, it’s really not that great. The location is decent but I barely know that. The last time I was there the place was absolutely empty and we just wanted to grab a glass and walk around, in which I always purchase wine. I was told no, not unless I had a reservation or was a wine member. It was empty! However, we left and went to another winery down the way in which they accommodated us. We left that place with lots of wine and a great experience. Motto should be: Don’t waste your time with Syncline.

I'm a fan of big, bold reds - sorry Pinot lovers - so tend to enjoy wines from grapes grown in eastern Washington and Oregon over those from Williamette Valley. Syncline produces just a few varieties of wine, but that's ok because they are all delicious! The 2020 Couve Elena was my favorite, a blend of Mourvèdre, Syrah, Grenache and Cardigan, it was smooth with aromas of raspberry and plum and it had a great mouthfeel. It was the first wine that we tasted and i knew immediately I would be purchasing some. The Mourvèdre was another winner - lush, juicy with hints of black pepper. I've been a fan of Syncline for years but this was my first visit to the vineyard. Over the summer I stopped in without a reservation and was turned away which left a bad first impression. I was on my own, the place was not crowded, but they still said no. When a friend who is a member invited me along for her wine pickup, I decided to give them another try. With reservations confirmed, we were greeted as we walked through the parking area. The tasting area, in a large wooden structure, is not heated so know this if you are going in colder weather. We were bundled up and they provide blankets so for the 90 minutes we were there, it was fine. Since there were only three wines to sample, the pours were very generous. After the pours, we each enjoyed a glass of the Couve Elena. The young man hosting us (Cody, tasting room manager) was very friendly, knowledgeable, and shared the history about Elena (namesake for the Couve Elena) and the vineyard. Syncline grows their own grapes sources others locally, fervent believers in sustainable farming and supporting local. We enjoyed the education as much as the wine. In the spring the vineyard takes on an entirely different look when the fields are covered with wild flowers that bloom like a symphony, starting out yellow, then followed by purples and blues. Syncline offers tastings out in the vineyard where you are emerged in this beauty. Later in the summer when the heat turns everything gold and brown, a different beauty awaits. In the fall there are seats outside by fire pits. I love their wine and now I love their tasting experience! Can't wait to visit again in the spring. And a membership is highly likely.

Greta vino, staff and setting. Well worth going to when in the area and looking for a good winery.

A gorgeous location that is easy to get to with not your run of the mill reds and whites. My personal favorite is the Gruener Veltliner and the Cinsault.

Gorgeous setting. The driveway in sets the stage for the beauty of this vineyard. It's a great place to settle in for a tasting or a glass if you can find something you like. I am not a fan of their wines, but since I enjoy the beautiful garden, they will suffice. $10 tasting fee, if you check in on Yelp you get one tasting for free. They way they have the garden arranged creates several private areas---great if you're with your honey or a group of friends. At least one of the larger areas has a fire pit. There were hammocks and picnic tables too. The inside tasting area is in an old, rustic barn, which was really cute. Wine prices were high for the quality. Food is available-- $25 for a picnic basket of meats, cheese, etc. The servers didn't seem very interested in discussing the wine they were pouring. We will go back, mainly to relax in the beautiful surroundings.

Great winery, we came in January and they had the fire pits going and blankets ready for a cozy afternoon of wine tasting. Every one we tasted was great and the people were very friendly.

This winery is the worst one I have ever been to! We joined the winery because non-members are basically unwelcome. The grounds are beautiful and the wine is amazing, so we joined despite the snobby atmosphere we experienced on our first visit. We returned for our second visit with elderly parents who had traveled from San Diego to experience this winery. Despite being members, we were told a reservation was required (contrary to what the website said.) They were offered low seats they were unable to sit in and and then a table in the back - not the experience we planned on, so we left. I reached out via email and was given their version of the experience - no apology at all! I do not want to be a member of a winery that treats people like this - especially elderly ones. Be ready for their response - they will not apologize!! No longer a member of this winery!!

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 Yelp 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!

We have visited a couple of times. Each visit has been good. However, I would avoid holiday weekends; this place tends to get very busy. The people serving were helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. The tasting fee is reasonable and waived if you buy wine. We were surprised by the quality of the Pinot noir. It was full bodied and reasonably complex, a nice challenge to many wines from the Willamette valley at half the price. We purchased the cuvée Elena. It is a nice Rhône style blend. It is complex and smooth on the palate. A bit pricy, but well worth it. I expect we will be making many returns. There is only one disappointment. Their very popular Subduction Red is not longer sold through the winery. While convenient for them, it is inconvenient for us.

So, this place is pretty. Very, very, very pretty. And there are hammocks. And firepits. And tons of little conversation areas, scattered in a pretty garden. Alas, we had just been to AniChe, where the staff were SO friendly. Syncline was nice, but the staff weren't particularly welcoming. The wines were great, but we just weren't in love with our experience. We'll probably go back at some point, though.

Lovely, large space with hammocks and tables and chairs for relaxing and sipping. The six wines were interesting and good though the excellent reds are pricey - up to $60/bottle. With the Yelp check in, the $10 tasting fee is waived. The fee also goes towards the purchase of a bottle. Staff were really sweet and unpretentious and answered all our questions.

Solid wine, great staff, rustic tasting room. They are getting better every year. Defiantly check them out. Expanding their varietals. Tried a few of their white wines this time.

I have to change to 1 star. The winery no longer allows us to bring our well behaved teens. I cannot recommend them any more.

I don't even think they deserve one star. This used to be a great place but not anymore. Snobbish and rule oriented. Tasting room manager is not friendly and is quite smug. Do yourself a favor and avoid this place. And as evident by her responses to other people's negative reviews it is all the customer's fault. Unfortunately no understanding that the customer keeps them in business. Just avoid this place. Update: please notice that I am to blame and am hostile. Even more reason to avoid this place.

Love this winery! Great outdoor setting with hammocks, lawn games, and a beautiful garden. Wine was excellent too. Must stop if you're in the area!

Less than 1 star. Arrived at 4 pm to wine tasting. Was told we had to make a reservation-1st open was for May. 7 tables were open. Bought a bottle of wine & still would not accommodate us for drinking their wine. Won't be back.

Reasonable tastings and good wine in a nice atmosphere. Nice change from the wIllamette valley.

Lovely wines with an attitude. If you enjoy Rhone wine they have nice single varietal wines but are known more for their Rhone blend. Young winery though. We are avid collectors of wine and were interested in the Rhone "club" selections. They stated they would give us a "splash" tasting of their Rhone blend wine. They gave one in our party a "splash" and then hid the bottles from us so the other party could not taste. Frankly, rude and when asked they said for tasting of the Rhone blend wine we would need to be members. Sadly, we might have joined the membership had they given us the chance to taste and not had an attitude. Too bad for an AVA and winery that barely makes the map.

I love this winery and the wonderful folks who own and manage it! I have been buying and enjoying Syncline wine for almost 20 years. The Mantones, who built this beautiful place, take great pride and care in making their Rhone style wines. They are very knowledgeable about the terriore and growing conditions that influence the wines from year to year, and happy to talk about it with their customers. They have stayed small and quaint rather than become too big and impersonal as so many wineries have done. The staff at Syncline does a great job making the customer's experience special and fun. I can't say enough good things about the wine club manager. She is amazing! She is always cheery and goes the extra mile to make everyone's experience magical. I try to plan my visits when she is working because she is such a pleasure to be around. I can't say enough good things about Syncline winery. It's one of my most favorite places to go.

Love the vibe of this place! We arrived rather late (5:30 and closes at 6), but they didn't push us at all. We relaxed and enjoyed the beautiful setting. The gruner veltliner to start set the stage. The mourvedre left us stunned. I got a bottle for a friend and we were both able to use our Yelp check in. Great place to check out if you're near Hood River. The drive in is an added bonus.

Worth a stop. Wines were good and the garden area is very pretty. No food served but it looked like you can bring your own and hang out. Probably a great place to meet up with a group, enjoy a glass and the ambiance,

Syncline is such a special spot with phenomenal wine. We have lived in the Gorge for a few years now and finally joined the wine club this last year. It has been one of the best decisions. We take every single visitor who comes in town to Syncline and they always have a stand out experience. The wine is lovely and I love their unique Rhône varietals. The atmosphere is picturesque. We love relaxing in the gardens-swinging in the hammocks when it's warm out and cozying by the fire pits when it is cold. Our service has always been top notch and we always feel special when we visit. Their wine club events are always gorgeous-they just have an ambiance that feels like home & family. We are thankful to have such great wine in the Gorge !

I have been to Syncline a few times. Beautiful setting, good wines. I am always a bit taken aback by the staff. We were there without reservations which we completely understand but another small group had 2 less. The place was pretty sparse as well. It was almost comical. They had no interest in being accommodating. I have been there on other occasions where the staff is reluctant to pour except for a limited "nonmember" pours. They literally chatted among themselves and ignored us. Not sure how we can appreciate the scope of what they produce when we make the effort to visit.

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!

This is the gem of the Washington gorge. Napa makes auto parts! Washington makes wine.

Very nice place loved the yard. Hammock's To lay in games in the yard. And very nice tasting wine

Great people great venue great quality wine! Visit the other wineries near by. But they are my favorite.

Really enjoyed the wines and they have a great garden area to just relax in. They also offered nice food to snack on while you tried wines.

Not a fan of their wines I tried for the flight tasting. Pretty setting. Wouldn't say the friendliest staff. =(

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.

The grounds are beautiful, the wine maybe great, however the young lady pouring wine was so snobbish ruined the experience. Wine is all about the experience-didn't have a good one at Syncline.

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!

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.

It's 92 outside and they have signs up that say." Pets must remain in vehicles at all times." This is the first Winery we have ever encountered that is not pet-friendly. We can't report on the wine because we wouldn't leave the dog in the hot car to taste it.

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!

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.

Favorite winery of the Lyle bunch. Friendly service and every wine in the flight was delicious. The grounds are beautifully kept and they make you feel so welcome that taking an hour long nap in the hammock seemed normal. Will highly recommend this place to all family and friends.

We stopped by Syncline this weekend and weren't impressed. $10 for 4 tastings and we really only enjoyed the Syrah. The staff seemed a little snobby and didn't inform much about each wine. The hammocks are nice though especially on a sunny day!!

This place is kinda hidden but its on a beautiful property. Kinda farm style but everything well up kept and very inviting. They have Yahtzee and cornhole plus hammocks and numerous places to sit outside. Now, to the wines. The wine was pretty good. Better then average but nothing that hit the pallet that said WOW. The overall experience was fantastic. We got wine and hung out for a while enjoying the outdoors here with sun shining down. It was a wonderful place to just relax and sip wine. Tastings were $10 a piece and waived with a minimum 2 bottle purchase. We had 5 tastes in the tasting. Customer service was decent. They were there to pour wine but not to be your friend. They were knowledge in the wine though... Definitely should check it out. Id say split a tasting, then get a glass of your favorite wine you tried and just hangout and relax!

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

Great location and better wine. I love all the seating options outside in the beautiful garden.

Beautiful setting complete with hummingbirds and a great garden. Every wine was a winner!

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 :)

Venue was awesome fairly easy to get to off the main road. Did a tasting overall not the best wine but the Rose was drinkable.

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.

Syncline was a winery we had wanted to visit for sometime. We'd heard excellent reviews about the wine and decided to make a special trip to make it happen. We brought our very well behaved yellow lab with us as it has been our experience with dozens of other wineries that dogs are welcome, especially in outdoor tasting situations such as what Syncline offers. Unfortunately, as soon as we arrived, we were greeted by an employee who informed us that they had a very aggressive dog on the property and therefore, no other dog was welcome. This makes NO SENSE! Rather than address an obvious problem with an unruly animal, easily solved by a leash and a responsible owner, Syncline endorsed the bad behavior. What happens next, when it's bad dog acts aggressively towards one of its customers or children? Not a case I'd want to defend.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.