Nicholson Ranch atop a hill in Carneros
4200 Napa Road, Sonoma, CA, 95476
Website: http://www.nicholsonranch.com/
My husband and I have driven by this winery over a dozen times traveling back and forth between Napa and Sonoma Valley. Before we decided to visit I kept thinking to myself “I wonder what this place is all about? Is it owned by someone famous like Jack Nicholson?” Perhaps that sounds silly but there are lots of celebrities who are producing their own wine nowadays. One of the benefits of this winery is that it is open until 6 p.m. Most other wineries shut down around 4:30 or 5:00 p.m. For this reason we decided to stop into the winery for one last tasting of the day as we were driving back to our hotel in Napa.
Lakeside seating area at Nicholson Ranch
From the outside, the term “ranch” was very suitable for this establishment. The sun was beginning to set as we arrived making the view of the winery and the surrounding hills picturesque. Off to the left we could see the vineyard leading to the hills in the background. There were a few people sitting at a table under an umbrella sipping wine near the lake. The lake is home to a number of birds and fish. When the wind blew, we smelled the very fresh and almost overwhelming scent of goats. Also adding to the “ranch” environment, the winery has a Redwood Terrace where visitors can sit and drink wine while absorbing the incredible views of the surrounding countryside.
Tasting room at Nicholson Ranch
After taking in the country atmosphere outside, I was surprised by the contemporary tasting room inside. Immediately upon walking through the front doors, there is a rectangular shaped tasting bar with sleek counter tops that fills the center of the room. The room is an open concept with an art gallery on the second floor. Lights hang down from the high ceiling but the room is lit mostly by the natural light coming in through the huge windows that reach from floor to ceiling. The staff was very welcoming and more than happy to serve us as they were nearing the end of the day. Our server even offered to give us a brief tour of the art gallery upstairs that contains a rotating exhibit of works from local artists.
This place is worth a stop for people passing by. If the weather is nice, I would suggest taking some time to relax outside by the lake and enjoy the scenery and some good wine. Just try to avoid sitting down wind from the goats.