Nicolas-Jay is a collaboration between two long-time friends: famed Burgundian winemaker Jean-Nicolas Méo of Domaine Méo-Camuzet and music entrepreneur and wine lover Jay Boberg. In 2011, Jay approached Jean-Nicolas with the idea of starting a small winery in Oregon. At the time, Jean-Nicolas had been making wine at Méo-Camuzet for nearly 25 years and was intrigued by the prospect of working with Pinot Noir in a new terroir.

Recognizing that the wines of Nicolas-Jay would be defined by their vineyards, Jean-Nicolas and Jay embarked on an extensive exploration of the Willamette Valley. They built relationships with some of the region's finest vineyards and eventually took ownership of Bishop Creek Vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, after being captivated by the expressiveness of the site. The vineyard, planted in the late 1980s on ungrafted rootstock, contributes to every multisite wine, imparting a savory quality and tight-knit structure that is consistent throughout the Nicolas-Jay range.

In the cellar, Jean-Nicolas uses spontaneous native yeast fermentations. The grapes are 100% destemmed and pressed very slowly at low pressure to emphasize pure fruit flavors and achieve a silky mouthfeel. The wines are aged in François Frères barrels (25-50% new) and are left unfined and unfiltered. Since their first vintage in 2014, Nicolas-Jay has quickly earned recognition as one of the premier producers of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the Willamette Valley.