Bon Niche Cellars
Get the Dirt from winemaker Melani Harding
“This community is so supportive – I love working with the individual wine growers, other wine makers, creating beautiful wines with the grapes we all grow. ”
What was your first vintage year? 2010
How many cases do you make per vintage? About 600 cases.
Do you have a Tasting Room? I don’t have a tasting room, but we do hold tastings by appointment!
What wine made you want to become a winemaker/start your own winery?
Aglianico and Falanghina – I was stationed in Naples, Italy, for three years with the Navy.
What varietals do you work with? Which varietal/wine is your favorite to make?
Malbec, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc (I grow these) – I also buy Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, and this year Viognier. One of my favorites to share with folks is our Malbec Rose – it’s unusual and so much fun!
What vineyards do you source from?
Our 7 acre estate SIP Certified vineyard is in the Estrella District, on a gently sloping hill. Everything else comes from the Estrella District – except for the Viognier, we have been getting that from Derby Vineyard.
What type of oak treatment do you use?
Mostly neutral Hungarian, American, some French – I’ve been buying a few new barrels every year, and I prefer Hungarian!
What do you love about your winemaking region? What makes it different special?
This community is so supportive – I love working with the individual wine growers, other wine makers, creating beautiful wines with the grapes we all grow. The cool nights out here allow our vines to rest a bit, maintaining a beautiful acidity.
What’s the story behind your winery name / label?
Bon Niche loosely translates to a “Very Good Place.”
What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about the wine business before you started your own winery?
How many family members want to come visit!
Most importantly, what's so great about being small? What can you do as a small winemaker, that wouldn't be possible for larger wineries?
I get to know my vines, my neighbors, my growers, and my buyers – and my barrels and my wines.
How do you view the future in the wine industry for small-lot winemakers?
I see it becoming a lot more collaborative – choosing to work in a shared location where expensive equipment can be utilized by more than one winemaker. Focusing on more sustainable ways to create and bottle wine will be an important area to explore, as well.
If you could choose another wine region to work in what would it be?
I love Walla Walla – it reminds me of Paso Robles, but in the early days. Of course, I would love to do a harvest in Argentina with their Malbec!
For more information about Bon Niche Cellars, please visit their website or follow them on Instagram.