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“I look at all of the vineyards we
own, and all of the individual lots of
wines that we make, and the
thousands of barrels we have sitting
in our cellar and sometimes I think,
you gotta be kidding me! After I’ve
sufficiently recovered from my daily
panic attack, I take off my coat, dig
in my heels and take it one barrel at
a time. It’s a rewarding job that
I love.”
–RANDY ULLOM
50
KENDALL-JACKSON WINE CENTER
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
5007 Fulton Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95439
(707) 571-8100 | www.kj.com
WINEMAKER PROFILE
RANDY ULLOM
Overseeing the Entire Kendall-Jackson Portfolio Since 1997
BY ABIGAIL P. ZIMMERMAN
Randy Ullom found his start to becoming King of America’s most famous
Chardonnay brand – Kendall-Jackson – by way of being a college ski bum in
South America.
As a college student in Utah, Randy felt set apart first for his preference for
wine over beer and second for his wanderlust penchant for skiing. “Even though I
was studying Mining and Engineering, I mostly majored in skiing.” Part way
through school, Randy took a leave of absence to ski in Chile. Three months
hiatus became three years! Randy felt welcome in early 1970s Chile. Locals
befriended him and Randy reveled in Chilean culture, especially enjoying wine
each night.
“Wine at dinner was a staple,” explains Randy. “There was a white wine glass
and a red wine glass at the table every night.” The father of a local friend took the
time to explain the nuances of grapes, cultivation and wine. Randy may have lived
in Chile indefinitely had political instability and a dangerous new regime not sent
Randy back to America.
Once home, Randy delved into Crop Production with a specialty in Viticulture
and Enology at Ohio State. Initially selecting the University to be near family,
Randy soon found a home within the thriving regional grape-growing belt
surrounding the Great Lakes. After earning his degree in 1975, Randy worked in
Ohio and New York before coming to California in 1981 to work the next decade
with renowned winemaker Cecil De Loach. Then, “Jess” came calling.
“This year, I’m wrapping up 19, entering my 20th year here with Jess and
family!” And legions of American wine lovers can be thankful. Randy’s astute
palate and hard work ethic combine to preserve and expand the wine legacy that
is the Kendall-Jackson brand. Men and women across the nation toast each other
with Kendall-Jackson wines and it is Randy who we may thank for the nationally
distributed Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay – which is not just Gold Medal wine
but also the enological point for wine enthusiasts to begin exploring their own
palate and seek even more diversity in their glasses.
“When people come to taste at Kendall-Jackson, they’ll be pleased to find many
different tiers of Chardonnay.” Indeed, Kendall-Jackson produces distinguished
single vineyard, single block, even single clone Chardonnay in California.
“My palate was quite aligned with Jess…and we understood how to make that
200 case, $85 per bottle Chardonnay as well as the larger volume Vintner’s
Reserve that America loves…We understood the volumetrics, economics and
quality aspects for the breadth of wines produced by Jackson Family Wines,”
explains Randy.
Today, visitors to the Tasting Room on Healdsburg Square may select and
savor higher end wines from the Grand Reserve, Jackson Hills and Highland
Estate tiers as well as the Vintner’s Reserve wines available in the Fulton Road
Tasting Room.
Summarizes Randy, “Just try our wines. Sip it. And a couple of sips leads to a
glass which leads to a bottle, and the rest is history.”
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