Ficklin Vineyards

the family

PETER FICKLIN
President and Winemaker
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Ficklin Vineyards is primarily a family operation with Peter Ficklin guiding the family's third generation in the production of its highly regarded California port-style wines. Peter once described his duties at the winery with the following comment: "I'm the president, the winemaker and the chief bottle washer as well." The decision to keep the operation small is an important one, as each step receives the personal attention of the family. His appointment as president in 1991 followed the retirement of his mother, Jean Ficklin.

As winemaker at Ficklin Vineyards, a position he was promoted to upon the retirement of his father David Ficklin in 1983, Peter has revived the vintage port program. In over 50 years of Ficklin's history, only eight vintage ports have been released, the most recent being the 1991 Vintage Port, that was released in 2002. From every vintage bottling, Peter holds at least 100 cases for additional cellaring and re-release at a later date.

Peter received his Bachelor of Science degree in enology from the University of California at Davis in 1978.


STEVE FICKLIN
Vineyard Manager

Steve Ficklin is committed to growing high quality grapes for use in the production of Ficklin Vineyards port wines. The winery grows its own grapes; only Portuguese varietals including Tinta Madeira, Touriga, Tinta Cao, and Souzao are used.

Steve farms approximately 35 acres of vines, all planted according to the same Portuguese varietals his father Walter C. Ficklin, Jr. obtained from U.C. Davis in 1946.

He is constantly working with new rootstocks and cultural practices to maintain the quality of the vines as he believes that the grapes are the first and most important step in producing a fine port.

In 1971, upon his father's retirement, Steve began the role of Vineyard Manager.


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