Alexandria Nicole Cellars

Photo by Steve Gaddis

Email:  info@alexandrianicolecellars.com
Website:  www.alexandrianicolecellars.com

  "Glamping" in the Vineyard

Principles: 
Jarrod and Ali Boyle

Winery is located at
Destiny Ridge Estate Vineyard
[MAP]

Winery Tasting Room 
Daily:  11 am - 5 pm  
Vineyard Tours & Barrel Tastings 
11 am - 5 pm, by appointment only
Call 509-786-3497  
Banquet Facilities 
Special events 

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THE STORY

       When Jarrod and Ali Boyle christened their 367 acres of land in the Horse Heaven Hills of Washington, the choice of its name came easily.  Providence played a strong role in the birth of Alexandria Nicole Cellars and its estate vineyard. Paying tribute to that force – so central to their dream come true – was a natural in the naming of Destiny Ridge Vineyard. 

       Jarrod was born in Prosser and learned the secrets of successful vineyard management as assistant viticulturalist under the tutelage of Dr. Wade Wolfe when both worked for Hogue Cellars.  It was here that wine grape growing and winemaking became Jarrod's passion. 

       While working for Hogue, Jarrod was in charge of inspecting grapes and making grower recommendations to help grape varietals achieve their desired characteristics.  A routine inspection of a vineyard on Horse Heaven Hills one day turned into an paradigm shift in Jarrod's career and life.  It was that day he noticed a nearby piece of barren land, sloping gently to the south, overlooking the Columbia River.  From that moment forward, visions of vineyard blocks danced in Jarrod's head. 

       Soon after, a casual conversation with an old friend led Jarrod to tell the story of his Horse Heaven Hills discovery and his vision of planting a vineyard there.  Jarrod's friend Rob Mercer (a member of a local farming family) was almost as excited as Jarrod.  The level of shared excitement escalated when Rob realized the land of Jarrod's dream was owned by his father... Bud Mercer.  Before long, the Mercer family joined with the Boyle family and the dream of a vineyard on the hillside... and Destiny Ridge Vineyard was born.  The first vines were planted in the fall of 1998. 

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THE WINERY

       It wasn't long before Jarrod's thoughts turned to a winery and producing wines from grapes grown on Destiny Ridge Vineyard.  With control over viticultural choices in his vineyard, Jarrod could monitor fruit quality from bud to bottle for a winery!

       The state-of-the-art Alexandria Nicole Cellars winery (named for Ali Boyle, Jarrod's wife) was constructed in the vineyard in September of 2004. 

It was designed to suit the production of small-lot handcrafted wines.  The production facility features:

• Custom-made receiving station and sorting table to process all hand-picked fruit
• Small open-top fermenting tanks that can be heated or cooled
• Climatic controlled room with humidification control
• Pneumatic punch down for gentle, quality fermentation control
• A view that is priceless

       Overlooking the majestic Columbia River, the site of Alexandria Nicole Cellars' winery is an awe-inspiring backdrop for several special events for wine and food enthusiasts and for community fundraisers.

       With three separate tasting rooms throughout Washington State, it is easier than ever to taste the power of destiny in Alexandria Nicole Cellars wines; be sure to include one of ANC's three tasting rooms on your wine-touring itinerary for the Yakima Valley, Horse Heaven Hills or Woodinville, Washington. 

The Prosser Tasting Room & Tapas Café

       Located in the Food and Wine Park of Prosser, Washington – in close proximity to Hogue Cellars and Kestrel Vintners – wine country travelers will find Alexandria Nicole Cellars' tasting room open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and its Tapas Café offering small plates, matched with Alexandria Nicole wines, available Thursday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Selections include:
 

                 
       On the high bluffs overlooking the beautiful Columbia River, an area known as Horse Heaven Hills is home to the 327 acres that comprise Alexandria Nicole's Destiny Ridge Vineyard.  It is here, high on the dominate ridge line, that 17 grape varietals on 243 acres now are thriving.  The first vines for Destiny Ridge Vineyard were planted in the fall of 1998, seven years before Horse Heaven Hills was federally authorized as an official American Viticulture Area.

       Within the vineyard lie four different soil types, each producing unique flavors and characteristics in the specific varietals thriving there.  Each micro-climate proved to have its own message sent through its ripened grapes.  It was here that a passionate man learned patience;  Jarrod Boyle waited with optimistic excitement for the final fruits to come of age.  Working with many renowned winemakers, Jarrod began to learn, through experimentation in the winemaking process, to enhance and reflect the terroir of Destiny Ridge Vineyard in his finished product. 

       The soils and climatic conditions of Destiny Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills appellation (authorized as Washington's ninth in 2005) have shown themselves to favor many planted varietals. Destiny Ridge Vineyard contains a wide variety, including:

       The hills of Destiny Ridge Vineyard are geologic folds in the earth's crust which create consistent winds that blow across the land.  This characteristic is part of what established Horse Heaven Hills' appellation as distinct from the large Columbia Valley appellation that surrounds it;  wind lowers the risk of vineyard disease and pests, while it stresses the vines by drying them out.  Add quick-draining soils of silty loam to the mix of vineyard characteristics, and the need for irrigation becomes even more pronounced.  Drip irrigation is the canopy-management tool of choice to limit the vigor of the vines at Destiny Ridge.

       In addition to its distinctive topography, Destiny Ridge Vineyard benefits from its proximity to the Columbia River.  Although it sits approximately 800 feet above the river, the vineyard is relieved of temperature extremes suffered elsewhere, thanks to the modifying effects of the river (with its stirring of air currents) and the land's slope toward the river (draining cold air away from the vines). 

       All these factors help produce intense-flavored grapes with a structural balance of sugars and acids.  Add to these factors attentive viticulture management, including balanced crop levels, gentle hand-harvesting and processing of grapes, and you have the secrets behind consistently excellent harvests at Destiny Ridge Vineyard.

       Fruit not used for the wines of Alexandria Nicole Cellars is sold to 20 wineries under contract with Destiny Ridge Vineyard. 

DESTINY RIDGE ESTATE VINEYARD
158422 W Sonova Road
Horse Heaven Hills
509-832-3497
[MAP]

WINERY TASTING ROOM
Alexandria Nicole Cellars
at Destiny Ridge Vineyard
Open all summer: Daily 11 am - 5 pm
Winter: Wed - Sun, 11 am - 5 pm

Vineyard tours and barrel tastings
are scheduled by appointment only.
To schedule yours, call 509-832-3497.

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