Friday, September 4, 2015

Exuding Elegance: Visiting Nickel & Nickel Vineyards



If you are looking for a unique vineyard experience that simply exudes class, elegance, and excellence; look no further than Nickel & Nickel vineyards in Napa Valley. Nickel & Nickel is known for their 'single-mindedness' in that they are committed to providing exclusively 100% varietal, single-vineyard wines. To a non-wine connoisseur, this can mean that Nickel & Nickel focus on and understand every aspect that goes into each and every wine; from the soil and grapes selected to the exact harvest date and aging processes used. While I had known this, I wasn't sure exactly what to expect while visiting Nickel & Nickel. From the moment I first arrived to the vineyard to the moment I left, I felt completely at ease and knew that I was at a winery where I would be taken care of by the best.

Entering the stunning property!
Welcome Room at Nickel & Nickel
Pulling up to Nickel & Nickel, I felt like I was entering the American Dream. The property is surrounded by a white picket fence, and you are immediately greeted and buzzed in via an intercom. Before getting further into the tour, I'll give you some more background on Nickel & Nickel and the winery. The vineyard is conveniently located in Oakville, right near the center of Napa Valley. It is located in 42 acres and was originally settled as a farmstead in the 1880s. Since then, buildings on the property from the 1700s and 1800s have been renovated to include classic touches on each and every vineyard experience.

Pre-wine tasting and tour! Isn't the property gorgeous?
Once arriving to Nickel & Nickel, you will be warmly welcomed into the John C. Sullenger House. This home was built around 1884 and recently renovated to become the welcome center and tasting room for Nickel & Nickel. The home is just stunning, and will instantly do that...make you feel at home. Once welcomed, you will be able to enjoy the ambiance of the home before beginning your tour of the vineyard and property.

Throughout your wine tour, you will be introduced to the various buildings on the property: the Gleason Barn, the Barrel Cellar, and the Fermentation Barns. Personally, my favorite area was a complete tie between the Gleason Barn and the Barrel Cellar. Each of these areas of the property was so unique, and possessed an entirely new aspect of the vineyard.


Vintage car on property!
All of the unique and vintage touches really make Nickel & Nickel stand out!
The first stop on my tour was the Gleason Barn, which is why I will start there! The Gleason Barn was built in 1770 in Meriden, New Hampshire by the Gleason family. After surviving the Revolutionary War, the hay barn was spared from demolition in 2001. Over the process of two years, the barn was dismantled and restored, being shipped in pieces to Nickel & Nickel before being reconstructed at the winery in 2003. Inside, the barn features offices and a laboratory, in addition to gorgeous touches such as antique cars!

Just wow. Pictures and words really don't do this wine cellar justice! 
The impressive fermentation room!
After leaving the Gleason Barn, we were brought to the fermentation barn and the barrel cellar. WOW is the best way to describe this. As you descend into the barrel cellar, anticipation builds until the entire 30,000 square foot subterranean cellar is laid out before you. Row after row of French Oak barrels is displayed, housing and aging the wine perfectly. The rows seem never-ending, and you can almost taste the wine as you are breathing in the delicious scent of the barrel cellar. Truly, this is an experience you have to see to believe.

Our wine and cheese tasting!
Once we had completed our tour and exploration of the property, it was back to the main house to taste some delicious wines! The tasting was very elegant, as you walk into the room and everything has already been prepared for you. Each setting was laid out with four pre-poured Cabernet Sauvignons, three cheese pairings, and a customized tasting card with your names printed on it. Upon seating, Kenji, our incredibly knowledgable host, instructed us on each of the wine and cheese flavors. We were encouraged to sip each wine and try it with the different cheeses, returning to our favorite pairings throughout the tastings. Kenji not only taught us more about Nickel & Nickel and their wine club, but also answered any general questions or comments that we may have about wine. After wrapping up his presentation, we were left to enjoy the wines!



Once I had (gladly!) finished my tasting and cheese pairing, it was time to depart Nickel & Nickel. Overall, the property was so beautiful and simply oozed elegance. The vineyard provided such an exquisite and unique experience, it instantly made me think of all of the friends and family I would love to return to Napa Valley with and bring them here!

One last picture of the wine cellar, as it was so impressive!

6 comments:

  1. So beautiful! You and the venue :)

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  2. Replies
    1. It was so amazing! Especially the smell..I mean, you could just smell delicious wine being aged- awesome!

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  3. This looks like a wonderful place and an amazing experience! I love the elegance and fineness it shows. Hope you enjoyed a peaceful and incredible time! With love,
    Vera

    The Flash Window | Bloglovin

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Vera! Nickel & Nickel was an awesome vineyard to visit- really, Napa as a whole was amazing!

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