Grower Website Trig Point Region: california - sonoma

Triangulation is a mathematical process that makes accurate map making possible and a “trig” has been used for many years to establish boundary lines. Trigonometrical stations were set on the top of hills and used as surveying sites. Winemaker Nick Goldschmidt’s father was a land surveyor and used these trigs as a reference for all of his work and Nick often reaches for his “trig” when surveying vineyard sites.

Nick has spent the last few decades traveling the globe as a flying winemaker.  For many years, he was the head-winemaker for established wineries like Simi, Allied Domecq, and Beam Estates. In 1998, Nick and his wife Yolyn started their family wine company. The goal has always been to focus on site specific wine making from great vineyard sites around the world. Nick’s extensive travels to wine regions mean he knew exactly which vineyard sites he would choose to make his wines.

The Trig Point wines from Nick and Yolyn Goldschmidt are all single vineyard, handcrafted, small production, artisan wines.

Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Nick found his way to viticulture after completing his Bachelor of Science in Canterbury at Lincoln University where he pursued a Diploma in Horticulture.

After a year of working in organics, plant breeding and working in the vineyards, Nick went on to study viticulture at Charles Sturt University in Australia. After completing three vintages back in New Zealand, he returned to South Australia to complete his post graduate degree in Winemaking at Roesworthy.

In 1989 he completed his first vintage in California at Carneros Creek making Pinot Noir and then headed to Chile as the winemaker for Caliterra. In 1990 he became the VP/Winemaker for Simi Winery in California. At the time, Simi Winery was owned by LVMH where Nick was also asked to help out with Cloudy Bay in New Zealand, Terrazas in Argentina and Ruffino in Italy – thus beginning his time as a ‘flying winemaker.’ Along the way, he developed his own brands: Forefathers and Goldschmidt Vineyard.  Simi was eventually purchased by Constellation in 1999 and in 2003 Nick became Senior VP/Winemaker for Allied-Domecq, where he managed winemaking for the California brands Clos du Bois, Atlas Peak, William Hill, Buena Vista and Gary Farrell among others. Allied-Domecq was sold to Jim Beam in 2006 and Nick added Geyser Peak and Wild Horse to the brands he was overseeing.

In 2008 Nick went out on his own full time, making single vineyard wines and continuing to consult for 16 wineries in 6 countries. He continues his fascination with new technology and biodynamics.

Nick on creating complexity in single vineyard wines:

https://youtu.be/mT8T1WTpfGY

The Diamond Dust Vineyard, located just north of Healdsburg, produces rich and supple Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Its sedimentary soils are nutrient poor and unfertile. They receive abundant sun exposure and induce concentrated and very flavorful grapes. Alluvial and sandy soils drain well and lead to large root systems and healthy vines. The micro-climate in the Diamond Dust Vineyard is of critical importance. Summer mornings are usually foggy and very cool but warm sunshine follows and mid-90s temperatures are common in the afternoons. Most evenings the fog rolls in again and the vineyards cool down to the mid-40s. This daily temperature cycle continues well into September and ripens fruit evenly and slowly. These are prime conditions for Zinfandel and the red Bordeaux varietals.