A couple of Winemakers from the Jackson Family Wines were in New York City to represent the Wineries in the New York Wine Experience hosted in The city last week. Despite not attending, I enjoyed joining the Jackson Family winemakers over lunch. Each winemaker shared a bit about their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for their respective brands. I had the chance to get to meet:
➡️Greg Brewer, Founder, and Winemaker of Brewer-Clifton in Santa Barbara @brewerclifton
➡️Randy Ullom, Winemaster at Kendall-Jackson in Sonoma @kjwines
➡️Matt Revelette, Winemaker at Siduri in Sonoma @siduriwines
➡️Hailey Jackson-Hartford Murray, Co-owner and president of Hartford Family Wines in Sonoma @hartfordfamilywinery
More than the pairings, I savored each unique wine and its terroirs. For instance, Greg presented a Pinot Noir from Brewer Clifton Santa Barbara, and Matt explained a Pinot Noir from Siduri Wines Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. On the other side, Hailey and Randy presented a diverse range of Chardonnay.
During the lunch, I had the opportunity to chat a bit more with Randy Ullom, Winemaster at Kendall Jackson, and excuse me, but I can get over it. He has been working for the Jackson family for around 29 years. He is a walking book full of knowledge but with grace and a humble man! We engaged in an amusing conversation about wine production and the new label he would bring to market. I had also the chance to ask him which was his favorite Chardonnay and he didn’t hesitate on answering: Jackson Estate Chardonnay from Santa Maria Valley.
It was a hearty and intimate lunch where I felt like being around people who value family, quality, and diversity.
All these details made me think… Do I remember the first time I tried a Kendall Jackson wine? It was in April 2018. It was a gift and it was a Merlot from Vintners Reserve.
And after Friday, I am more eager to visit them in Sonoma now than ever. Stay tuned!
