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 love how creativity intersects with the technical aspects of winemaking,” says Nicole. “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.
Nicole graduated from the University of California at Davis renowned Viticulture & Enology program, where she also minored in Italian. After graduating, she worked in wine sales for two years before moving back to the cellar. Prior to joining J, she collected over a decade’s worth of experiences in cellars in Sonoma County and 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. 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.