Nicole Hitchcock has been a leader at J Vineyards & Winery for nearly a decade. Named Estate Director in early 2024, where she oversees all aspects of the estate, she first joined J in 2015 as Head Winemaker. Under Nicole’s leadership, J’s fresh, contemporary interpretations of classic Russian River Valley and California wines reflect the highest standards of craftsmanship, quality and place. Her intellectual curiosity, forward-thinking approach to leadership and investment into a diverse, inclusive community is bringing new attention and acclaim to this longtime Sonoma County icon.
“I thrive on learning, experimentation and evolution. I feel that curiosity fuels creativity, and I love how creativity intersects with the technical aspects of winemaking,” says Nicole of what drew her into winemaking. “I continually notice new things about my craft. Each observation leads to more questions, and it’s the questions that keep me perpetually intrigued. What truly excites me is the creative pursuit of constantly refining my winemaking approach to make better wines every year.”
Focusing equally on still and sparkling wines, J’s extraordinary portfolio includes single-vineyard and small-lot Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as well as a large collection of sparkling wines that explore the full array of what’s possible in the style. “In the cellar, our goal is to be attentive to the individual needs of each distinct lot and style so it can express a purity and clarity of place and vintage,” she says. “When all is said and done, we hope to have created wines with nuance and dimension — wines that make us pause, think and be present, even for just a moment.”
Nicole is a graduate of the University of California at Davis’ renowned Viticulture & Enology program, where she also minored in Italian. After graduating, she dedicated two years to gaining expertise in wine sales, then transitioned back into the cellar. Prior to joining J, she collected over a decade’s worth of winemaking experiences in cellars in Sonoma County all the way to Western Australia. In 2015, she earned an MBA from the Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University, gaining an academic business perspective on the wine industry as well as insight into how it will evolve in the future.
Nicole is passionate about supporting the growth of women and diversity in wine. As her career has advanced, she’s taken high-profile leadership positions in efforts like Women Behind the Wine and J’s Shifting the Lens culinary series. “I think that it is essential to respect and learn from the traditions of the wine industry, but we cannot be afraid to push the boundaries and chart new territory,” she says. “What it means to be a woman in the wine industry today is to have more power and strength. It’s critically important to see women succeeding and leading.”
Away from the winery, Nicole and her husband are teaching their daughters to find excitement in learning and experimentation. Recently, that’s included home brewing root beer, trying new recipes together and exploring new paths among Sonoma County’s many hiking trails.
Nicole is a panelist for SPARKLING WINES AND CHAMPAGNES: CLASSIC, SOPHISTICATED AND TIMELESS on Saturday, March 1 from 9:30am - 11:30am.
