Alexandria Nicole Cellars
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Wine production |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founder | Jarrod Boyle, Ali Boyle |
| Headquarters | Prosser, Washington , United States |
Area served | Washington state, United States |
Key people | Jarrod Boyle (Founder and Head Winemaker), Ali Boyle (Co-founder, Sales and Marketing) |
| Products | Estate wines from Destiny Ridge Vineyard |
| Website | alexandrianicole |
Alexandria Nicole Cellars is a Washington wine producer dedicated to crafting estate wines from its Destiny Ridge Vineyard, situated within the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Established in 2001 by entrepreneurs Jarrod and Ali Boyle, the winery operates tasting venues in both Prosser, Washington and Woodinville wine country. The Woodinville location is housed in the historic Hollywood Schoolhouse, a King County landmark dating back to 1912. In recognition of its achievements, Alexandria Nicole was honored as Washington Winery of the Year by ″Wine Press Northwest″ in 2011.
Destiny Ridge Vineyard
The Destiny Ridge Vineyard, Alexandria Nicole’s 367-acre estate vineyard planted since 1998, is positioned in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA near prominent vineyards such as Champoux and Canoe Ridge. It encompasses over 258 acres cultivated with 17 different grape varieties, including uncommon Washington grapes like Petit Verdot, Tempranillo, Counoise, Petite Sirah, Mourvedre, Lemberger, Roussanne, and Marsanne.
This vineyard was developed through a collaboration between the Boyles, the Mercer family—owners of Champoux Vineyard—and Doug McCrea, a specialist in Washington Rhône varietals from McCrea Cellars. McCrea observed that the site shares similarities with the northern Rhône Valley, making it particularly suited for Syrah and Viognier grapes. Given its warm climate, southern Rhône varieties such as Grenache, Roussanne, and Marsanne were planted on rocky slopes, while Syrah and Viognier flourish in cooler sandy soils.
Destiny Ridge utilizes a high-density planting model with approximately 2,000 vines per acre, a practice more common in Old World vineyards compared to the New World standard of around 900 vines per acre. The Boyles oversee vineyard operations closely, emphasizing balanced yields and hand harvesting techniques to maintain exceptional quality.
History
Jarrod Boyle, originally from Prosser, honed his skills in viticulture and winemaking alongside Washington industry pioneers including Dr. Wade Wolfe and the Hogue family of Hogue Cellars. After identifying premium vineyard sites along the Columbia River within Horse Heaven Hills, Boyle established Destiny Ridge Vineyard in 1998 in partnership with the Mercer family, who initially planted Champoux vineyards.
In 2001, Jarrod and Ali launched Alexandria Nicole Cellars and by 2004 had constructed a production facility at Destiny Ridge. Their tasting room on Lee Road played a key role in promoting Prosser as a notable destination for Washington wine tourism. Expanding their reach, Alexandria Nicole opened a second tasting room in Woodinville wine country by 2007 to serve the Seattle metropolitan area.
As head winemaker, Jarrod acknowledges mentors such as Dr. Wolfe and Dave Minnick for their influence. With Ali leading sales and marketing efforts, the Boyles grew Alexandria Nicole to an annual production of approximately 10,000 cases. Their success was highlighted when they received the Washington Winery of the Year award from Wine Press Northwest in 2011.
Looking forward, Alexandria Nicole aims to enlarge Destiny Ridge Vineyard acreage, introduce a third tasting room in Hood River, Oregon, and continue their partnership with Dogfish Head Brewery to create wine-inspired beers.
Wines
Alexandria Nicole focuses on crafting vineyard-specific wines primarily from grapes grown at Destiny Ridge Vineyard, celebrated for their robust flavors that vividly reflect the estate's unique terroir. From time to time, additional fruit is sourced from other vineyards within the Columbia Valley AVA to complement their production needs.
Renowned wine critic Paul Gregutt has commended the superior quality of Destiny Ridge fruit and Alexandria Nicole’s wines for preserving the "Old World varietal character," especially evident in their Tempranillo, while simultaneously incorporating New World stylistic elements popular in Washington. Further recognition comes from Alder Yarrow of Vinography and Jon Bonné of the San Francisco Chronicle, both emphasizing the winery’s dependable quality and significant presence in the market.
Collaboration with Dogfish Head
In 2010, Jarrod Boyle, the founder of Alexandria Nicole Cellars, collaborated with Sam Calagione, CEO of Dogfish Head Brewery, to develop Noble Rot, a unique beer-wine hybrid. This saison-style brew blends botrytis-affected Viognier and Pinot gris grapes sourced from Destiny Ridge Vineyard with barley, pilsner, and wheat malts. Grapes contribute 49.5% of the fermentable sugars, resulting in an alcohol content of 9% by volume. Alexandria Nicole handles pressing grapes with skins intact, while Dogfish Head co-ferments the Viognier alongside grains and introduces Pinot gris later in the process. By 2012, Noble Rot had extended its reach to more than 27 states across the U.S., receiving favorable reviews that bolstered both companies’ market standing and demonstrated innovative advancement in beverage creation.
External links
- Alexandria Nicole Cellars - Official Site
- Wine Peeps "Women of Washington Wine: Ali Boyle of Alexandria Nicole Cellars" April 25, 2011