Nicolas is the winemaker for Maison-Areion in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA of California. He was born in the United States and raised in Bordeaux on his family’s 40-acre vineyard and winery in Margaux, France, so vineyards and wine have always been part of his environment.
Traveling the world opened his eyes to the different terroirs that exist and taught him a lot about the complexity of wines. He deeply believes in what Mother Nature offers and is fascinated by the many possibilities for creating truly unique wines. His various experiences, travels, and the people he met brought him around the world, ultimately leading him to settle in California.
In 2014, he took over vineyard management at The Mountain Winery, a historical wine and vineyard site that was once the headquarters of the Paul Masson Champagne Company. To this day, alongside Prudy Foxx, he remains involved in consulting and winemaking for the owners. In 2015, he founded his consulting company, Maison Areion, and began farming a small vineyard in Woodside—Chaine d’Or Vineyards, which he now calls home. Media Inquiries: nicolas@maison-areion.com | https://maison-areion.com/
What’s the ONE THING most unique, authentic, & memorable about your brand?
I grew up in a small village just outside of Bordeaux, FR in the Margaux appellation, where my family owns a boutique vineyard and winery. I am the 4th generation vigneron of this legacy. Fast forward 15 years, I landed in the Santa Cruz Mountains, CA., and was offered the opportunity to take over a 1.8-acre block planted in 1987 (my birth year!) with Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon and a smaller portion of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
The name Maison Areion has a deeply personal meaning to me. In Greek mythology, Areion is a horse with the gift of speech. Choosing this name for my winery is my way to pay tribute to my sister. My sister, a professional horseback rider, sustained a traumatic brain injury; yet she continues her journey as a part of Team USA for the Paralympics in L.A. in 2028.
In that spirit, I aim to craft wines based on humility and passion. I’m inspired to do the work myself at every step of the process, from farming to winemaking.
Describe how and what you’d do with your winemaking career or winery business if you were not constrained.
Farming a vineyard at 1,400 feet above sea level already puts me a little closer to the sky… When I started tending the vines and making wine at this truly unique location, I slowly realized how much my childhood dream was becoming true: I was managing my own operations from vine to bottle.
Presently, I wish I could turn the vineyard site into an autonomous ecosystem that does not need anything else but itself to thrive. While I am taking baby steps and implementing Biodynamic practices, I would love to be able to develop an insectary with beehives, a huge vegetable garden that could supply produce for tastings and wine-dinners as well as livestock to embellish the energy and livelihood of the place. A true farm-to-table haven where everything is savored exactly where it is grown.
What is the One Wine most emblematic of your brand and/or winemaking style? Tell us its story.
2018 Maison Areion Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon – 14% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. I am still greatly rooted in Margaux and I am always looking for intense minerality, balance and fruit in wine. This wine tends to remind me of the wines I tasted while growing up, maybe a nostalgic memory…
Here’s the wine review, and my comments about the back label.
Bonus Question: What’s the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
When I speak English, most people think I am American because I have no French accent but my French is still better than my English.