The Contour of Luxury Spring/Summer 2020 Issue | Page 464

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You founded Nicholas Allen Wines & Carte Blanche in 2007. It is no
small feat to establish and oversee one’s own winery. What inspired you
to take on the endeavor of creating your own boutique label and operate
your own winery?
I have been sipping family wines at the holiday table since I was ten and
we would discuss what happened in the vineyard and with the wine-
making in each particular vintage we drank. We would talk about what
happened around the world in that year also which was a lot of fun
and really educational as well. I was always proud of our wines and the
fact that we were in the wine industry……..and that our wines were,
and still are highly regarded. It’s always been in me, it’s in my blood. I
have always loved wine, and to create and produce my own boutique
winery label and portfolio of wines was and still is the end all be all for
me! Furthermore, I was becoming exceedingly proud of the wines that
were being made in the United States, especially in California and Or-
egon. I wanted to take the French classical winemaking tradition and
the French wine template which was my upbringing in wine, adapt it
to northern California, and put my own distinctive mark on each wine.
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It’s been stated that you selected specific vineyard sites, in Napa Valley,
for producing your brand vintage and product line. What were the no-
table factors and characteristics about the chosen vineyards that you felt
were ideal for creating the finest wines possible?
Some notable factors or characteristics about some of the world-class
vineyards we have chosen are their soils, clonal variety, sun exposure,
drainage, elevation, average daily temps- highs and lows, proximity to
fog in some cases, the age of the vines, appellation differences for flex-
ibility, and overall vineyard management. The overall track record and
pedigree of the vineyard and the historical consistency of the wines that
have come from there were also very important factors when deciding
to work with a vineyard.