California cult winemaker 'improving' after bike crash

The winemaker and co-owner of highly regarded Sine Qua Non in California remains in hospital after crashing his motorbike, but has shown signs of improvement.

Sine Qua Non winemaker Manfred Krankl (Image: sinequanon.com)

Krankl’s wife, Elaine, said several days ago that she looked forward to her husband making a full recovery. And she added yesterday (30 September) that his condition was still ‘improving’.

The pair began Sine Qua Non in the 1990s, marking their first vintage in 1994 and focusing on Rhone varietals, mainly Syrah and Grenache. They have since seen the wines sell for thousands of dollars.

Two weeks ago, six bottles of the winery’s Dangerous Birds Assortment 2007 fetched $3,200 at a Hart Davis Hart auction in Chicago, against a pre-sale high estimate of $3,000.

And earlier this year, a single 75cl bottle of Sine Qua Non’s Queen of Hearts Rose 1995 sold for $42,780, according to online auctioneer Winebid.com. Only 25 cases of the wine were made.

Elaine Krankl thanked well-wishers following her husband’s accident, but has asked for privacy at the present time.

Written by Chris Mercer

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Chris Mercer is a Bristol-based freelance editor and journalist who spent nearly four years as digital editor of Decanter.com, having previously been Decanter’s news editor across online and print.

He has written about, and reported on, the wine and food sectors for more than 10 years for both consumer and trade media.

Chris first became interested in the wine world while living in Languedoc-Roussillon after completing a journalism Masters in the UK. These days, his love of wine commonly tests his budgeting skills.

Beyond wine, Chris also has an MSc in food policy and has a particular interest in sustainability issues. He has also been a food judge at the UK’s Great Taste Awards.