THE STORY – FIRST A VINEYARD

When Jarrod and Ali Boyle christened their 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.  One day, a routine inspection of a vineyard on Horse Heaven Hills turned into a paradigm shift in Jarrod’s career and his 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 telling the story of his Horse Heaven Hills land discovery and his vision of planting a vineyard there.  Jarrod’s friend Rob Mercer (a member of a well-known 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.

THEN A WINERY

Originally, the plan for the vineyard was to use its fruit to produce small case lots for other wineries.  When the vines came into full production, however, the fruit produced was of such amazing quality,  Jarrod’s thoughts turned to a winery that would produce his own 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!

The state-of-the-art Alexandria Nicole Cellars winery (named for Ali Boyle, Jarrod’s wife) was constructed in September of 2004.It was designed to suite the production of small-lot handcrafted wines.

Overlooking the majestic Columbia River, the site of Alexandria Nicole Cellars’ winery and vineyard provide an awe-inspiring backdrop for several special events for wine and food enthusiasts and for community fundraisers.  Private tours and barrel tastings can be arranged for an unforgettable experience… tasting the power of destiny in its place or origin.

VIDEO OF Alexandria Nicole Cellars & Destiny Ridge Vineyard !