Ali and Jarrod Boyle

Jarrod Boyle had a love for farming that began in childhood when he was exposed to many different kinds of crops.

After graduating from Eastern Washington University, it seemed only natural that Jarrod would continue in the farming industry. He began as a farm business manager and then moved on to Assistant Vitaculturalist for Hogue Cellars, under Dr. Wade Wolfe. As Assistant Vitaculturalist, Jarrod was in charge of inspecting grapes and making grower recommendations to help the grapes achieve their desired characteristics.

It was during one of his routine vineyard inspections in the Alderdale area, near Prosser—the birthplace of Washington wines—that Jarrod noticed what would soon become Destiny Ridge Vineyards. The then barren land had a beautiful southern slope and from the minute he first beheld it’s terroir he began planning a way to turn this land into a vineyard.

One day, Jarrod stopped to visit his childhood friend, Rob Mercer, recently home from the Marines to manage the Mercer Ranch farming operation. Rob and Jarrod, friends since childhood, began with the usual catching up, but then Jarrod mentioned his dream for the hillside. Rob was interested, especially when he realized that the land belonged to his family. Rob talked to his father, Bud Mercer, and they decided to join Jarrod in his dream of a vineyard on the hillside. The first vines for Destiny Ridge Vineyard were planted in the fall of 1998.

While the original plan for Destiny Ridge was to make small case lots, with the vineyard in full production and accolades for the fruit, the seed was planted to start their own winery, which would become Alexandria Nicole Cellars.

Jarrod decided early on to name the winery after his wife, Ali, because he wanted to “always remind her of how thankful I am for her. The name of the winery is a good reminder for both of us of where all of our blessings come.”

The vineyard still focuses on small case lots of hand harvested choice fruit from the estate vineyard, and is moving toward a first class facility to attract visitors. The current winery is located at 717 6th street, in downtown Prosser. A future winery is slated to be built on Frontier Road, near Snoqualmie Winery, in the wine district of Prosser. This building will consist of a barrel room for the aging and blending of reserve wines, as well as a state-of-the-art culinary kitchen.