Winemaker Randy Ullom is thought about a wine legend– and now it’s been made official for Kendall-Jackson’s head wine maker
Ullom was name “American Wine Legend” this month by Red wine Enthusiast magazine in its 23rd annual wine star awards.
“I’m speechless,” said Ullom, 69, who’s been in the red wine business for 46 years. “It’s nice to be acknowledged by individuals I deal with and those at the magazine. White wine actually is my enthusiasm and it shows.”
It holds true: Red wine has actually remained a consistent in his life. The Michigan native matured enjoying his papa make wine at home as a hobby. Motivated, Ullom went off and invested 3 years in Chile on a cross-country journey exploring its white wine growing areas. He went on to pursue a career in viticulture and oenology, and studied the field at Ohio State University.
After six years working as vineyard supervisor and wine maker in Ohio and upstate New York, he moved to California in 1981 where he picked up a job as a wine maker at Santa Rosa’s DeLoach Vineyards. There, his passion led him to producing red wine that became gold medal winners at wine competitions.
In 1993, he began his journey at Kendall-Jackson. He led efforts in broadening the business beyond California– opening wineries and vineyards in places like Chile, Argentina and Australia.
Throughout the years, the wine maker has created some of the wine industry’s most innovative initiatives, including barrel-fermenting the flagship Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay, likewise referred to as the biggest barrel-ferment on the planet for chardonnay.
In 1997, Ullom was called head wine maker for Kendall-Jackson Winery as a way of honoring his participation in the intricacies of the winery’s viticultural and winemaking programs.
Under Ullom’s leadership, the winery has carried out wine making and vineyard practices that deal with ecological issues, including the winery being powered by eco-friendly solar power and implementing water conservation practices.
“Randy is an integral part of Kendall-Jackson’s history,” said Barbara Banke, the winery’s chairman, in a news release. “He is an icon who has shaped the red wine market and his unique design of Chardonnay.”
The revered Red wine Enthusiast Red wine Star Awards are presented every year to celebrate influential members of the global red wine, spirits and drink market.
“I look forward to continuing to promote higher enhancements in site-specific soils, grapes, and farming strategies, because ultimately, a wine maker is a farmer initially,” Ullom stated in a news release.
In August 2023, Ullom will celebrate his 30th anniversary with Kendall-Jackson.
“I’m surprised and honored,” he stated.
You can reach Personnel Writer Mya Constantino at [email protected] @searchingformya on Twitter.