2003 Nicholson Ranch Syrah

Nicholson Ranch is a 40-acre estate nestled between Sonoma and Napa Valleys. It is owned by Deepak Gulrajani, a high-tech entrepreneur. The vineyards were planted in the late 1990s and a state-of-the-art winery was completed in 2003. Nicholson’s debut vintage was the 2000. The estate makes Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah.

Carneros AVA, also known as Los Carneros, is at the southern end of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys at the top of the San Francisco Bay. The 8,000 vineyard acres are mostly planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, both of which thrive in the district’s cool, marine climate. Carneros became an AVA in 1983 and it has attracted foreign wine companies along with local producers. It has been especially appealing to European producers of sparkling wines including the giant Spanish cava producers Codorniu and Frexinet, and the French Champagne house Taittinger. Codorniu in Carneros is called Artesa, and Frexinet’s Carneros brand is Gloria Ferrer. Taittinger calls its Carneros winery Domaine Carneros. The European producers also make still wines in Carneros.

This grape is grown in milder climates and produces a medium-to full-bodied wine. It is also known as Shiraz, but should not be confused with Petit Sirah, which was developed by crossing Syrah with Peloursin.