nichol winery
British Columbia, Canada
Matt Sherlock and Ross Hackworth (of both Lock & Worth winery and Nichol Winery) are legends in the Okanagan. They’ve both been in the wine business for a long time and have seen many changes across the valley and in BC. Ross has made Nichol one of Canada’s iconic wineries over the last two decades and knows Naramata as well as anyone. Matt not only runs the 2 wineries with Ross but also owns one of Canada’s great wine importing companies, Sedimentary Wines. Their winemaking is pragmatic and informed by the European wines they love to drink, which is to say that the vineyards are the main focus, not the winery.
Nichol Winery is one of the northernmost vineyards on the Naramata Bench in the Okanagan. Wine has been made there for 25 years and their own-rooted Syrah vines are the oldest in Canada. Ross Hackworth purchased the winery from the Nichol family in 2005.
All of the vineyards they work with are within view of the winery. The first part of their vineyard area was planted between 1989 and 1991 and their vineyards surround the winery on all sides. The Syrah vineyard consists of 17 rows planted on granite in the north eastern portion of the vineyard. All of the vineyards are west and south facing and range from 1400-1500 feet in elevation.
The majority of vineyard work is done by hand with minimal tractor use. Picking is by hand and yields are low. Vines are mostly dry farmed (no irrigation) and vineyard work is entirely organic. There is no fertilizer used and there is grass covering between every row.
Reds are unfined, unfiltered and are aged in old French oak. All of their wines see old, neutral barrels at some point in their lives. Sulfur use is low. Nichol has been known as one of the great Canadian wineries for over 2 decades and it is an honour to bring these wines to Manitoba.
Pinot Gris
Planted from 1990-2005 on a mix of granite, granite shard, loess and glacial till. 100% Naramata village. Hand-picked, gently crushed and left to settle on the skins for 36 hours in open top fermenters. Pressed of the skins with fermentation taking place in a combination of 2 tonne open top fermenters and 5+ year old French barriques.
Blanc de Noir Brut
Champagne Method of Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. Acid driver, dry and very pretty.
Cabernet Franc
13 rows planted in 1989 on granite bedrock. 100% Naramata Village. Hand-picked and de-stemmed in to open top fermenters. Basket pressed with MLF taking place in neutral French barrique. Raised in neutral French oak barrels for 12 months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Nate’s Vineyard Syrah (“Young Vines”)
Planted in 2010 on grantie bedrock and glacial till in the souther quadrant of the property. 100% Naramata Village. Hand picked, de-stemmed. Half was pressed after a 5 day sock while the other half underwent ferment on the skins. Basket pressed. Malo in neutral Franch Barrique. 17 months in barrel Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
“Old Vines” Syrah
17 rows planted in 1990 and 1991 on granite bedrock. It is the oldest Syrah vineyard in Canada. 100% Naramata Village. Hand-picked and de-stemmed. Fermented on skins in 2 ton open top fermenters. Basket pressed. Full MLF in Neutral French barrique. Raised in a combination of 500 litre puncheons and barrique. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Retail
De Luca Fine Wines
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Jones & Co Wine Merchants
Kenaston Wine Market
Winehouse
