Sine Qua Non is one of California's most famous wine producers. Based just north of Los Angeles in Ventura County, and with most of its vineyards in Santa Barbara, it eschews the usual image of top California wine as being only from Napa Valley. That is not the only thing eschewed at Sine Qua Non – the same wine is rarely made more than once, turning the idea of the American icon wine on its head. The 2001 Californian vintage was extremely good. A dry winter was followed by an equally dry but warm spring which caused earlier budburst than normal. Severe frosts then struck in April with some producers losing a significant amount of their crop. A hot May and June then cooled into a slightly damper July and August which led to a dry September. Stored in a private cellar at 12° and 80% humidity.