Our story in real time
Suddenly, we blinked, and it’s been over two years that we’ve been back in Vermont, raising our girls and building our dream at Lincoln Peak. Our individual connections to farming started long before we met; Nichole was raised on a peach orchard in California’s Central Valley, and Kevin grew up here in Vermont’s Champlain Valley. We both got bit by the wine bug back in 2013 and after a decade traveling around and making wine with some of the best in the world, we finally found ourselves where we always wanted to be. We took over Lincoln Peak in April of 2024, and we pruned the vineyard, reopened the tasting room, and welcomed our second daughter before June. Talk about a whirlwind…
Fast forward two years and our baby is a toddler, our love for making wine in Vermont grows stronger every day, and our vision for the future of Lincoln Peak has never been more clear.
This is our story, in media res. An update in real time.
Here’s what stands out for each of us:
Nichole
As a native Californian, I am somewhat ashamed to admit that my first impression of Vermont was, “That’s a wine region!?” Thankfully, after our first harvest, I was convinced; now, I can’t imagine living or working anywhere else. I am so proud to be a part of Vermont’s nascent winemaking story. Cold climate-appropriate hybrids are no longer just a footnote in the winemaking world; they are becoming a large part of the conversation around sustainability and resilience in the face of climate change. Growing hybrids is not easy from a marketing perspective — the market still wants Pinot Noir and Cab and Sauvignon Blanc — but it allows us to make wines that are far more sustainable, and that story is one I can tell with integrity. Hybrids are the future, and to think that we’re among the trailblazers of this Brave Little State is something I’m immensely proud of.
While moving to Vermont has infused my career as a winemaker with new excitement and motivation, the most unexpected abundance has come in the form of community. In California, the industry is simply too big and developed for the closeness that we have found here in Vermont. From the small business collabs to the open sharing of advice among winemakers to you, our biggest fans — I am deeply grateful for the community we are building. My cup is already overflowing and we’re just getting started.
As we look to the future, we have one simple goal: make serious, world-class wine that doesn’t take itself too seriously. To do that, we’re going to continue focusing on two things that really matter: the land and the community. Our what and our why.
Kevin
I’ll admit that moving back to Vermont was a selfish decision. Making great wine here always felt like a pipe dream, and a secondary goal to just living here. When you’re raised in Vermont, its soul becomes an indelible part of your own; living and working in different parts of the world was formative and foundational, but the call of Vermont was never silenced. It was time to head home and, thankfully, Nichole was on board.
When I look back at our first two years at Lincoln Peak, I’m overjoyed. We’re making wines that I’m super proud of and we haven’t had to sacrifice quality to farm the way we want - with a focus on sustainability, ecology, and soil health. That’s a choice you have to make in a lot of places, but when you work with varieties suited to your climate, it’s a no brainer. Farming this way makes you an intimate part of the ecosystem. The land becomes your colleague: a living, breathing entity that has a personality and preferences and idiosyncrasies just like we do. I love to imagine how time spreads out in front of me, allowing me to deepen my relationship with this place and these plants.
Sharing the vineyard with our community has been everything. We wouldn’t have been able to entertain the idea of this dream without the help of our village: parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, the community coming out to harvest, our regulars at Friday Night music… it’s overwhelming to think about how much support we have. Thank you to every single person who has been a part of our story.
Here’s to many more!