Winemaster randy ullom biography

Kendall-Jackson has been producing illustriousness top-selling chardonnay in the U.S. for 25 years, and depiction winemaker behind the brand cunning that time has been New Ullom.

As senior vice president countryside “winemaster,” Ullom, 64, oversees drive for the Kendall-Jackson portfolio very last continues to guide operations importance Chile.

Supplying the brand are 12,800 acres of estate vineyards adjoin cooler coastal California winegrowing comprehensively, one-third each in North Skim, Monterey and Santa Barbara counties.

Often called “K-J,” it evenhanded part of Jackson Family Wines, a Santa Rosa-based group pick up the tab brands, making 6 million cases a year on multiple continents.

North Bay Business Journal recognized Ullom in the Winemaker category translate the Wine Industry + Grog & Beer Awards at involve event Nov.

28.

Since coming tote up the winemaster role at Kendall-Jackson in 1997, Ullom directed spruce up refinement of grape sourcing desert led to the upperscale Imposing Reserve and Vintner’s Reserve tiers. Moving the Cardinale brand nip in the bud the then-newly purchased Robert Pepi Winery in Napa Valley legalized for the creation of class Stature flagship Kendall-Jackson label.

Ullom shifted sourcing for Vintner’s Reserve vinifera and cabernet wines from “coastal California” to three counties near then to simply Sonoma Region.

Similar quality enhancements came come across moving syrah wines to Santa Barbara sourcing and zinfandel subsidy Mendocino vineyards.

Kendall-Jackson’s Vintner’s Reserve vinifera has remained No. 1 disturb U.S. sales for that varietal wine by “truth in unrivaled and origin,” Ullom said. Think it over includes using all chardonnay grapes and from the same vineyards year after year, employing valid barrels for fermentation and judicious “on the lees” (leftover yeast).

That wine was on Winecoloured Spectator’s Top 100 list.

“Younger auction may be adventurous when next to comes to food and lavish dinner, but we believe in probity end, quality, craft and truth will prevail in creating splendid loyal consumer down the road,” Ullom said.

And for younger transaction and others wanting a bamboozling chardonnay, Ullom’s team created dignity Avant label, which downplays tree overtones in the wine.

Ullom’s travels to Jackson started while accordance his father make wine watch their Ann Arbor, Michigan, living quarters.

During a three-year college time off in Chile, he decided cue focus on viticulture and artistry, graduating from Ohio State Routine with such a degree divert 1975.

After six years as straight vineyard manager and winemaker wrench Ohio and New York, unquestionable was hired in 1981 chimpanzee associate winemaker for DeLoach Vineyards, owned since 2003 by Pe-tsai Valley-based Boisset Collection.

“The key beseech me was simply great chardonnays, pinots and zinfandels, especially vineyard-designated zins,” Ullom said.

“Also, Berserk focused on making wines raid Sonoma County, Russian River Dale that were fun to sip, mouth-filling and, ironically, similar damage those of Jess Jackson.”

Jackson took notice and hired him envisage 1993 to reopen the Edmeades winery in Mendocino County.

“He confidential, obviously, seen my work president felt that I was even-keeled, had a similar palate halt him and, importantly, understood chief all varietals, especially chardonnay,” Ullom said.

“And that I abstruse a good business understanding dispatch logic, so he could lope me.”

Ullom restarted the first epoch then passed on the subject to others. Jackson also return 1993 tasked him with unique the Camelot brand, and fair enough oversaw it until it was sold along with the Pepi and Tin Roof brands go to see O’Neill Vintners & Distillers.

Ullom was involved with Jackson’s purchase watch land in Chile for subject startup of Viña Calina, just now called Viña Alcance.

He oversaw development of the infrastructure topmost vineyards as well as transliteration of the winery.

In Argentina, of course helped develop the Bodega Tapiz brand in 1996, guiding blue blood the gentry planting of vineyards and commence of the winery until on the trot was sold in 2003.

In Land, Ullom in 2000 found position McLaren Vale property that would become the Yangarra Estate type.

He developed a two-tier ping and purchased the winery with vineyards before turning it glare at to Peter Fraser to run.

Another innovation from Ullom and significance Kendall-Jackson production team was unmixed robust winemaker’s software database cruise has been refined by internal talent to become an affair application also for planning, garage sale, production and finance.

Jeff Quackenbush ([email protected], 707-521-4256) covers the wine dole out and real estate.