Our Story
We’ve come a long way from our first planting in 1998.
First a Vineyard…
When Jarrod and Ali first christened their land in the Horse Heaven Hills of Washington, the choice of its name was a simple one. Providence played a significant role in the birth of Alexandria Nicole Cellars and its estate vineyard. Paying tribute to that force – so central to their dream come true – naturally came 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 The Hogue Cellars. It was here that wine grape growing and winemaking became Jarrod’s passion.
While working for Hogue, Jarrod oversaw the inspection of grapes and made grower recommendations to assist in helping grape varietals achieve their desired characteristics. However, a pivotal moment occurred during a routine vineyard inspection in Horse Heaven Hills, which brought about a paradigm shift in Jarrod’s career and life. On that particular day, he spotted a nearby section of barren land with a gentle southward slope overlooking the Columbia River. From that moment on, visions of vineyard blocks danced in Jarrod’s mind.
Soon after that moment, 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
The original plan for the vineyard was to supply fruit to produce small case lots for other wineries. However, when the vines reached complete production, the quality of the fruit was so exceptional that Jarrod’s thoughts shifted to envision creating his own wines from the grapes grown on Destiny Ridge Vineyard. With control over viticultural choices in his vineyard and a winery of his own, Jarrod could monitor fruit quality from bud to bottle!
In September 2004, the state-of-the-art Alexandria Nicole Cellars winery (named after Jarrod’s wife, Ali Boyle) was constructed. The winery was designed to suit the production of small-lot handcrafted wines.
Overlooking the majestic Columbia River, Alexandria Nicole Cellars’ winery and vineyard provide an awe-inspiring backdrop for various special events, appealing to wine and food enthusiasts and community fundraisers alike. Private tours and barrel tastings can be arranged for an unforgettable experience- tasting the power of destiny in its place of origin.