The Vineyards
At Nicholson Ranch, harmony and balance go hand-in-hand. Here the winemaking is vineyard-driven and that principle is reflected in every glass. Nicholson Ranch estate vineyard and single-vineyard sources are extraordinary for the character they bring to each wine: low-yielding vineyards that produce astounding concentration of flavor. The Nicholson Ranch mantra is holistic, embracing all aspects of the vine's health and physiological development. It derives from years of experience of observing unique regional terroir and cultivating optimal conditions. All vineyard work and winemaking techniques are done by hand and aimed at bringing out the unique, intrinsic character and even sprit of each individual variety. The resulting wines stimulate the senses, warm the heart and evoke a feeling of well-being.
Ramona Nicholson is an advocate of sustainable farming practices and has implemented deficit irrigation and dry farming as a technique that benefits the environment and results in optimal flavor profiles for her wines.
In 1995, Ramona Nicholson began planning her vineyards by selecting the most appropriate clones for her sites. The 14 acres of Pinot Noir are planted in Dijon clones 113, 114, 115, 667 and 777. Thirteen acres of Chardonnay are planted in Dijon clones 76, 95, 96, and UC Davis 4. The plantings are rounded out with two acres of Merlot and one acre of Syrah.
Multiple rootstocks were selected to match the various soil types and slopes in the vineyard. Ramona is continually refining her vineyard management practices in the pursuit of superb quality in the bottle. In addition to block-by-block and row-by-row water management, she has experimented with crop loads, canopy management, and even vine spacing. On the rockiest hillsides she has inter-planted vines to three feet apart to better balance the vines to the site. These days, Ramona often takes her children into the vineyard to start developing their basic understanding of vine health and balance.
Vineyard sourcing is the key to crafting wines with a strong sense of place. Nicholson Ranch sources most of its grapes from diverse family-owned vineyards. At Nicholson Ranch, the winemaking team, led by winemaker Jacqueline Yoakum, strives to optimize quality in both the vineyard and in the cellar. This involves drastically reducing vineyard yields in favor of quality, rigorously selecting grapes and adopting winemaking techniques that best express varietal character.
The Nicholson Ranch portfolio is comprised of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Merlot. The wines are the best possible representation of the vineyards in which they were grown and reflect a hierarchal expression that begins with varietal then hones in on regional, vineyard and even individual block character.