Land: USA/Kalifornien
Webseite: www.kenwoodvineyards.com
Adresse: Kenwood Vineyards, 9592 Sonoma Highway (Helmick Road), Kenwood, CA 95452, Sonoma County, Kalifornien / USA, Tel: +1 707 282 4228

Kenwood Vineyards - Sonoma County Kalifornien USA

Die Weinkellerei von KENWOOD VINEYARDS befindet sich im kalifornischen Weinanbaugebiet Sonoma County am California Highway 12, ein wenig östlich (20 Min./11 Meilen) des Städtchens Santa Rosa, etwa eine 3/4 Autostunde (26 Miles) nordwestlich des Wein-Städtchens Napa und nicht ganz 1 1/2 Autostunden (55 Miles) nördlich von San Francisco.

Das Weingut Kenwood Vineyards mit dem schmucken Tasting-Room in einem Holzfarm-House (siehe Bilder ganz oben) ist öffentlich zugänglich und kann täglich von 10.00 - 17.00 Uhr für Weindegustationen und Weineinkauf besucht werden. Empfangen werden Sie dort gerne von MAXWELL BURNS und SAM FERGUSON (Bilder oben links).

Für spezielle Weinkeller-Besichtigungen oder Events bitte E-Mail an: info@kenwoodvineyards.com

Die Weinberge von Keenwood Vineyards befinden sich alle im Weinanbaugebiet von Sonoma County, Kalifornien USA:
- Jack London Vineyard, Sonoma Mountain, Zinfandel, Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah.
- Kenwood Estate Vineyard, Sonoma Valley - Merlot und Zinfandel.
- House Vineyard, Sonoma County, Zinfandel.
- Carriger Estate Vineyard, Sonoma County, Cabernet, SB und Chardonnay.
- Olivet Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir.
- Green Valley Ranch Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Chardonnay.
- Yoakim Bridge Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, Zinfandel, Cabernet, Merlot und Petite Sirah.

Ausserdem kauft Kenwood für einige Weine zusätzliche erlesene Weintrauben von ausgesuchten Weintraubenbauern im Sonoma County.

In den Weinbergen sind STEVE SCHUKLER und DOUG SPRINGER (siehe Bilder in den Rebbergen) verantwortlich.

Heute hat der anspruchsvolle Job als Kellermeister PAT HENDERSON (siehe Kopf-Portrait unten Mitte) inne, unterstützt von Winemaker KATIE HOGGINS (Bild rechts mit Weinglas in der Hand) und ELYSE KIRKHOFF im Winemaking-Labaratory (Bild links).

Zur Geschichte des kalifornischen Weinguts Kenwood Vineyards:
Kenwood Vineyards wurde von den Brüdern MARTY und MICHAEL -MIKE- LEE (siehe Bild ganz oben rechts) und ihrem Schwager JOHN SHEELA gegründet, welche 1970 die aus dem Jahre 1906 stammende, alte PAGANI-Weinkellerei im Herzen des kalifornischen Sonoma Valley übernahmen und modernisierten.

Nachdem die nächste Generation kein Interesse an der Übernahme des Betriebes zeigte, konnte 1996 mit dem Teil-Verkauf an GARY HECK - Besitzer der umfangreichen KORBEL Weinkellerei, die vor allem Schaumwein produziert - eine gute, lokale Lösung gefunden werden. Schliesslich 1998/1999 wurde Kenwood von Gary Heck zu 100% übernommen, für total 50 Millionen Dollar. Mike Lee blieb noch bis zu seiner Pension 2003 bei Kenwood Vineyards als Senior-Winemaker. Mike verstarb im Mai 2011.

Nachdem ein Verkauf an die BANFI VINTNERS, eine Wine-Company in New York, gescheitert war, da Ungereimtheiten in der Weinkeller-Produktion und in den Weinberg-Besitz-Verhältnissen zu Tage kamen, wurde Kenwood Vineyards im Mai 2014 vom französischen Spirituosen-Multi PERNOD RICARD übernommen.

Kenwood Vineyards - Sonoma County California USA
Kenwood Vineyards was established in 1970 in the former Pagani Brothers Winery, a historic cellar dating back to 1906. Located in the heart of Sonoma Valley, Kenwood Vineyards is dedicated to producing premium wines truly representative of Sonoma County’s world class vineyards.

As one of California’s premium wine pioneers, we now benefit from a strong heritage and pedigree. We initiated our passion in an original Sonoma barn building that dates back to 1906 where we have remained since. We stay true to our historical past by producing wines from each vineyard separately, as we did 46 vintages ago. We have been crafting the iconic Jack London single vineyard wines for nearly 40 years, and as we look towards the future, we craft new premium wines and invest in our home and our vineyards. Our new ranges are pure expressions of the rich and diverse terroir of Sonoma.

At Kenwood, grapes from Sonoma Countys finest vineyards get the attention they deserve. The harvest from each vineyard is handled separately within the winery to preserve its individuality. This small lot winemaking allows our winemaker, Pat Henderson, to bring each lot of wine to its fullest potential. In the California tradition, Kenwood Vineyards produces a full line of premium quality varietal wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and Merlot.

History
For 60-some years it was the site of the ol´ Pagani Brothers Winery. This was a place where you´d take a jug in and for a dollar you could fill it with either white or red. In 1970 brothers Mike and Marty Lee, brother-in-law John Sheela, plus a few moneyed investors bought the winery and some vineyards. Many thought they were crazy to attempt a premium winery at this location--and in Sonoma County of all places! Robert Mondavi had established the now iconic Mondavi Winery "over the hill" in Napa Valley.

Kenwood Vineyards steadily grew during the 70s, 80s, and 90s under their leadership. In 1996 Gary Heck of Korbel bought part ownership then took full control in 1999 as the Lee brothers and Sheela retired with a nice chunk of change. Mike Lee stayed on as head winemaker for awhile. (May 2011, the North Coast wine community lost a visionary winemaker with the death of Mike Lee, co-founder of Kenwood Vineyards.)

In 1997 they had purchased the rundown Valley of the Moon Winery making significant improvements in the facility and the wine. So when Gary Heck bought Kenwood Vineyards he also got Valley of the Moon. Heck also purchased Lake Sonoma Winery to create a nice little wine empire. Kenwood has doubled its production under Korbel to 600,000 cases a year.

Gary Heck is getting close to retirement age and has wanted to get back to running just the Korbel Champagne and brandy business. Valley of the Moon and Lake Sonoma were sold off not too long ago.

A few years ago Korbel announced they had sold Kenwood Vineyards to Banfi Vintners, a wine company out of New York. That deal fell though at the last minute when Banfi discovered Kenwood didn´t actually have the vineyards, or more importantly, the production facilities to make anywhere near 600,000 cases of wine. Many of the grapes came from Gary Heck´s vineyards and most of the wine production was at other of Heck´s facilities. Without the ability to actually make the wines Banfi backed out just before signing off on the purchase.

In May 2014 Gary Heck announced the sale of Kenwood Vineyards to Pernod Ricard, a French wine and spirits corporation. They already own Mumm Champagne. After the purchase they said the usual corporate stuff about "wanting a winery of considerable scale" and "wanting to be a big player in the American premium wine market." More telling is they want Kenwood to be a larger player nationally--that sounds like increasing production even more.

Wir haben vom Weingut Kenwood Vineyards - Sonoma County - Kalifornien / USA vorallem Weissweine, Rotweine und Schaumweine / Sparkling im Angebot. Tolle Weine!
www.kenwoodvineyards.com

Weitere Weine & Informationen bei Ed`s World Wines, info@edsworldwines.ch
www.edsworldwines.ch