mission
Our mission is simple: partner with the best growers to produce site driven wines that rival the best wines of the world.
Introducing
Syndicate
syn·di·cate
noun
/ˈsindikət/
a group of individuals or organizations combined to promote a common interest.
Founded in 2025 in Napa Valley, CA, Syndicate Wines emerged from the strategic merger of three formidable players: Grape Culture, Nottingham Cellars and Typicite Wines. This is not just a merger; it’s a declaration of our ambition to craft the finest site driven wines sourced from esteemed growers across California’s diverse landscapes.
We collaborate with the best growers in the business, handpicking grapes that embody the character and authenticity of their terroirs. Each bottle we produce is a testament to our commitment to quality and the artistry of winemaking.
This venture is the next chapter in the Cranor family's legacy in the wine industry, and we're thrilled to welcome Craig Ploof as a partner. Craig's many years of dedication and expertise have been crucial in elevating our wines, helping us to achieve an unparalleled standard of excellence. Together, we’re not just making wine; we’re crafting an experience, a story, and a movement.
Timeline
2007-2009
Nottingham is born
In 2005, Jeff Cranor launched a small project called Satyr’s Pond with a few friends, acting as a négociant. He sourced small lots of bulk wine from respected regions across California and sold the wines informally to friends and acquaintances, laying the groundwork for what would become a deeper journey into the wine industry. His son Collin joined part time to help with cellar work and pound the pavement around the bay area.
Jeff and Collin built a small winery and tasting room in a Livermore Valley warehouse, shifting their focus to wines made from locally grown fruit. The tasting room quickly became a success, drawing attention from the community and beyond. Their first in-house vintage, produced in 2009, received critical acclaim and high scores, establishing Nottingham as one of the region’s top producers.
2010-2019
The Roller Coaster Years
Nottingham grew rapidly, expanding from a few thousand cases to nearly 20,000 cases annually. By 2016, however, the market began to shift dramatically. While the winery continued to perform well, the Cranors recognized potential challenges ahead for the region.
In 2018, Craig Ploof officially joined the team, following the successful launch of Typicité Wines—a collaborative project he and Collin had started the year prior.
2020-Present
Move to Napa and Syndicate Launch
In 2019, the winery made the decision to source fruit from Napa Valley. The resulting wines would go on to form the foundation of Grape Culture, a brand focused exclusively on single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.
Between 2020 and 2021, the team built a new production facility in Napa and relocated operations to the heart of wine country. Both Collin Cranor and Craig Ploof moved to Napa to support the project, and in 2021, they produced their first wines in the new facility.
Grape Culture quickly gained critical acclaim. Within its first three vintages, the brand earned more than fifty 90+ scores from top critics, including eighteen ratings of 95 points or higher.
In 2025, Typicité was officially merged with Nottingham Cellars and Grape Culture under a unified banner—Syndicate Wines.
It Starts in the Vineyard
Vineyard partners
Every wine we make is produced to tell the story of the wines origins; its soils, climatic circumstances, and ultimately the farmers hand.
Over the years we have been able to work with some of the most incredible growers in the game. Names like Beckstoffer, Sangiacomo, Bien Nacido, Gaps Crown, Sugarloaf Mountain, to name a few.
Click below to see a detailed vineyard map of our past and present vineyard partners and gain insight into the origins of our wines.
Science, Artistry and a little luck
Winemaking
Collin Cranor and Craig Ploof had around a decade of winemaking under each of their belts working at different wineries before joining forces in 2017 to launch a brand as a "side hustle". Craig officially joined the team in 2018 as Director of WinemakingBoth share a similar philosophy: work with great fruit, respect the process and always remember, you only get one chance a year.
Click the link below to get an in depth look into how they manage each vineyard uniquely, blending old school know how and modern technology to make world class wines.