Nickel & Nickel Vineyards

Beautiful Winery in Oakville, California

After studying physics and math in college, Oklahoma native Gil Nickel served in Vietnam and then worked as a guided missile analyst in California. Eventually he returned home to help run the family business, Greenleaf Nursery Company—the nation’s second-largest family-owned wholesale nursery.

In 1976, Nickel left the business in his brother’s hands to pursue his dream of making wine in Napa Valley. By 1979 he had studied enology at the UC Davis and founded the successful Far Niente Winery. More than two decades later he founded Nickel & Nickel to produce 100% varietal wines from single vineyards.

This beautiful property is notable for its stunning buildings. Sullenger House is a restored 1884 Queen Anne-style home. Tours leave from here and include a visit to another restored building, the 1770 Gleason Barn (moved from New Hampshire and rebuilt on site).

The fermentation barn is new, but built with 1880s techniques to resemble a traditional building of that time. At tour’s end you’ll return to Sullenger House to “taste the terroir.”

Fascinating Fact:

Note the the antique truck parked next to the winery’s highway entrance. Gil Nickel was an avid collector of race cars—and raced them, too! He was the first American to win the European FIA Historic Sports Car Championship (1995).

Amenities: Wine Club
Founded: 1997
Signature Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel
Wine Tasting: By appointment only
Hours: Mon–Fri, 10–3; Sat–Sun, 10–2

Nickel & Nickel Vineyards
8164 St. Helena Highway
Oakville, CA 94562
707-967-9600

website: www.nickelandnickel.com

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Suzie Rodriguez writes about travel, food, and wine from her home in the wine-country town of Sonoma, California. You can follow her travels and musings at The Culinary Gadabout.

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Website and all photos copyright © 2001–2012 Lee W. Nelson