MBA Alum Named "Winemaker of the Year 2022"
Nicole Hitchcock is Senior Winemaker of J Vineyards and Winery, and was recently named "Winemaker of the Year" by Wine Enthusiast’s 2022 Wine Star Awards.
Nicole got her official start with a winemaking career after her studies at UC Davis, and her career continued its growth trajectory after graduating from SSU in 2015 with an MBA in Wine Business when she became winemaker for J Vineyards and Winery. She now has over 20 years of wine making experience and is a major advocate for diversity and inclusion within the wine industry. When she began her career, it was still a very male-dominated field and there were very few female winemakers. She has led by example to become the leader and mentor that she didn't have as a minority in the industry. She recognizes that there is now much more equality in opportunity and recognition for women in the wine industry.
In 2022, Nicole helped launch the “Shifting the Lens” program that featured three BIPOC chefs showcasing their unique culinary creations paired with J wines over separate two-week residencies. She is enthusiastic about continuing the work of incorporating diversity of experiences and backgrounds into the wine industry.