WOMEN+POWER: The Cline Sisters

We have a soft spot at Polo Lifestyles for California’s burgeoning Contra Costa County as it is our corporate home

Years ago, the easternmost reaches of the county were predominantly agrarian with a rich history in wine making and to this day, vineyards dot the landscape, often squeezed between mammoth housing developments.

It is here, in 1982, that Fred Cline founded Cline Family Cellars, creating some of their first vintages from century-old vines of Zinfandel, Carignan, and Mourvèdre. Just a few years later, he purchased 350 acres in the Carneros area of Sonoma County, where he and wife Nancy raised their children, including Megan and Hilary.

There is a demonstrable changing of the guard happening in California wine country, with noted names either selling to larger conglomerates and moving on, or the next generation of the family stepping up to take the reins. Megan and Hilary (as well as siblings Mayme and Henry who also currently work for the family-owned business) demonstrate the latter trend and you can feel their excitement.

“We are so excited about reintroducing Cline to the world, with a renewed emphasis on Sonoma,” the sisters shared with Polo Lifestyles. “We wholeheartedly honor everything our parents have built and will continue to honor the ancient vineyards of Contra Costa County, but it is an exciting evolution for Cline as we renew our focus on Sonoma.”

Megan and Hilary’s leadership in that evolution includes branching out to establish Gust Wines (gustwines.com), where fruit is meticulously sourced from vineyards in Sonoma County’s Petaluma Gap that the family purchased in the mid 1990’s and where the sisters and their siblings have the fondest of memories. One of their vineyards, Catapult Vineyards, is named after a catapult that brother Ramsey built for their youngest sibling, Henry, which launched pumpkins and watermelons. The sisters are deeply connected to this place and that love and care is part of what led them to focus on Petaluma Gap.

Yet, in addition to their familial rootedness in the place, the Petaluma Gap has the potential to create great grapes. “Petaluma Gap is one of the most exciting and captivating growing regions in California [with] incredible versatility in the vineyards, an amazing community of producers and farmers, and the wines are so special and distinctive.” Gust’s 2019 Syrah, for example, is an extraordinary wine, displaying the complexity of what Syrah can do in the cool and windswept climate of the Petaluma Gap. They also recently released a 2023 Rosé made from Pinot Noir, another varietal that excels in the area.

While Megan and Hilary are hardly alone as women working in wine, women remain a minority in the wine world, but their presence is growing. When asked about this dynamic, Megan and Hilary didn’t shy away. “The opportunities lie in bringing a diverse perspective to wine making and business operations, advocating for more inclusivity, and inspiring other women to pursue careers in wine. The challenges often include overcoming industry biases and navigating a traditionally male-dominated field. However, these challenges drive us to innovate, collaborate and contribute to a more equitable and dynamic wine industry.”

It’s clear that Megan and Hilary are just getting started with the Gust label and helping to lead Cline Family Cellars into the next several decades. “The future of Gust lies in continuing to focus on this incredible growing region,” Megan shared, “and Gust will continue to be a key part of Cline Family Cellars.” Along with their brother Henry, who is the vineyard manager, big things lie ahead, and as Megan said, “make sure to follow along to find out what we decide on next!” We are watching and cheering you on.