![]() by Fred McMillin for April 25, 1997
Winery of the WeekThe Line on ClinePrologue: "Ten years ago I was ready to throw in the towel"...Fred Cline. The Cline Time Line: The 1960's—Fred dine spends his boyhood summers on his grandparents' ranch near the town of Oakley, 50 miles east of San Francisco. Grandpa teaches him how to grow grapes and make wine. 1973—Grandpa passes away, leaving Fred a small inheritance. 1982—Having graduated in wine science from U.C.-Davis, Fred uses the money to purchase the Firpo Winery and vines at Oakley. He quickly parleys the inheritance into a three million dollar debt. 1986—Three years younger than brother Fred, Matt Cline also graduates from U.C.-Davis and joins what has been a one-man firm. Matt will become the winemaker. 1987—Demand is low for his off-beat Rhone varietals. Fred doesn't even have the funds to bottle his 1987 vintage, when suddenly an infusion of family money saves the day. 1989—The Rhone Ranger thing has caught on, and sales are busting out all over...in 35 states and Japan. Fred and wife Nancy retain their Oakley vineyards but move the winery to Sonoma's prestigious Carneros Distict. They purchase 350 acres of land as well as an 1850 farmhouse (tasting room). There are picnic grounds and a sweeping view of the valley. 1997—When I last checked, Cline wines had reached Canada and nearly all the rest of the U.S.A. An awful lot of Rhone varietal fans are glad Fred hung in there 10 years ago.
Just the Facts
Postscript: About Fred's 1973 inheritance from grandfather... grandfather's first name was Valeriano, which doesn't mean much, but his last name was Jacuzzi, which means a lot if you like his whirlpool bath invention.
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