Our Journey
OUR JOURNEY
A Family Winery, Built One Bottle at a Time
Optima Winery began in 1982 with Mike Duffy and a simple idea: make wines we love, share them with people, and build something our family could be proud of.
More than four decades later, that is still what we do.
From our home in Alexander Valley, our family continues to make small lot wines that reflect the vineyards, the vintage and the people behind each bottle.
OUR WINES HAVE STORIES TOO
Wines made for the next generation
Mike and Nicol wanted to create something that would be theirs, something their grandchildren could hold onto as a lasting memory of their family and the winery long after they were gone.
So, they started making wines just for them.
Miyah’s White Blend, Madison Blend, and Bubba’s Bubbles were each created with one of their grandchildren in mind. Each wine has its own personality, just like the grandchild it was named for.
The kids are incredibly proud of their wines. They’ve become genuinely interested in the winery and are always asking, “How is my wine doing?”
That’s one of the things Mike & Nicol love most about being a family winery. They aren’t just making wine for today. They are creating memories, sharing the family story, and passing something meaningful on to the next generation.
These wines are little pieces of the family that they get to share with you.
And maybe someday, they’ll be the ones telling the stories.
Optima has always been about family, and our family story is a little different than you might expect.
Nicol and Mike met through soccer. Nicol's son played on one of Mike's competitive soccer teams, where Mike was the coach. One evening, Nicol invited Mike over for Chardonnay. At the time, Nicol wasn't much of a red wine drinker. Mike introduced her to Petite Sirah, and that may have been the beginning of two love stories.
They fell in love, and 25 years later, they are still building their life and their winery together.
Together they created a blended family with Nicol's son and Mike's three sons. Today, their children and grandchildren are an important part of the Optima story.
Soccer has always been part of the family too. Nicol started playing at age five, Mike was on the first UC Davis soccer team, and now the next generation of the family is carrying on the tradition.
The Family
It really is a family affair.
MIYAH
MADISON
BUBBA
44 YEARS OF OPTIMA
For 44 years, Optima has remained a family winery, making small lot wines in Dry Creek Valley and sharing them with people who appreciate good wine and good company.
We have grown, our family has grown, and the wine has certainly changed over the years. But the heart of Optima remains the same.
Family. Wine. Friends. And a lot of memories along the way.