Tendril Cellars

We believe that the “essence” of truly great wine begins and ends in the vineyard. We chose the name, Tendril, because it is an integral part of the grape vine itself. This humble yet visually appealing curly “appendage” is how the young shoots attach to the trellis and pull themselves up. Without tendrils, the shoots would simply crawl along the ground and the grapes would perish long before ripening. An annual and all-encompassing pursuit, the name Tendril honors the grapevine, the foundation for all truly great wine.

The Coolest New Thing in Wine: A Five-Course Pinot Noir Tasting Experience
“Oregon winemaker Tony Rynders likes to make wines that both surprise and delight people… he is doing just that and a good bit more. By the numbers along Rynders ranks as one of Oregon’s most highly acclaimed winemakers.” – Katie Kelly Bell, August 14, 2017

Recent Accolades

Owen Bargreen

One of the great white pinot noirs that you will taste, the 2018 ‘Pretender’ offers honeysuckle and white peach aromas with lighter red raspberry and flinty accents on the nose. The palate is soft and provides a seamless drinking experience, with a wonderful veil of salinity that runs through the core of the wine. With more air macadamia nut and forest floor accents shape the palate, showing serious weight and verve. Finishing very long, this is generous, intense wine that is best enjoyed at a warmer temperature. Drink 2022-2034

Owen Bargreen

The really good 2017 ‘Extrovert’ received 100% whole cluster fermentation and is Tony Rynders’s boldest expression of Pinot Noir. Ripe black fruits collide with copious minerals and shades of tar, anise and baking spices on the palate. With good viscosity and finesse, and a soft mouthfeel, this is only starting to hit its stride and can easily go for another fifteen years. Drink 2022-2036

Vinous

Vivid ruby-red. Powerful, highly perfumed red and blue fruit, incense, mocha, and vanilla aromas are enlivened by a spicy nuance and a hint of pungent flowers. Weighty and velvety in texture, offering appealing sweet boysenberry, black raspberry and cherry cola flavors that become more lively on the back half. Plays brawn off energy with a sure hand and finishes impressively long and sweet, with gentle cola. Two-thirds new French oak.

Wine Enthusiast

Layered and complex, this punches up blackberry and black-cherry fruit with seams of tobacco and sea salt chocolate. Aged 18 months in two thirds new French oak, it’s dusted with baking spices and still retains the supporting acids that make this vintage a good one to cellar. At four years of age, this is just now entering its best drinking window.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2016 Pinot Noir Extrovert blossoms slowly on the note: blackberries, blueberries, and black cherries give way to notes of potting soil, tar, dried herbs and floral touches. The palate is concentrated and plushly fruited, firm but juicy and with a long finish. Well done!

Welcome to Tendril Wine Cellars