As Associate Winemaker for WillaKenzie Estate, Alex Nichols manages the day-to-day winery operations at the estate and works closely with Winemaker Erik Kramer on all aspects of winemaking. He has spent the past 10 years making wine for respected producers in the Willamette Valley and New Zealand.

A native Oregonian, Alex grew up in a family surrounded by food and wine at every gathering. He decided at a young age to pursue a career in winemaking, and worked his first harvest at Belle Vallée Cellars Cellars while attending Oregon State University. Upon graduating with a degree in enology and viticulture, he joined Adelsheim Vineyard in 2009. Over the next few years, he gained valuable experience in the cellar and vineyard at Adelsheim, including working alongside Erik Kramer for the 2009 and 2010 vintages.

Alex traveled to the southern hemisphere to work the 2010 harvest in Marlborough, New Zealand. Upon returning to Oregon, he established his own Pinot Noir brand and continued to build his résumé through positions at Chehalem Winery and Argyle Winery. Alex particularly valued his time with each of these respected wineries with long histories in the Willamette Valley.

In 2017 Alex joined Jackson Family Wines as assistant winemaker at its McMinnville Winery to help complete the winery construction and work the inaugural harvest at the winery. The following year the opportunity to work with Erik Kramer came along again, this time with WillaKenzie Estate, another respected winery with a rich history that Alex had long admired. Attracted by the prospect of focusing on the unique estate and working alongside Erik Kramer again, Alex joined the WillaKenzie team full-time as assistant winemaker in 2018.

Alex lives in the Willamette Valley with his wife, son, and daughter and enjoys cooking, gardening, and exploring the outdoors with his family.