In 2001, Kale Anderson took his first harvest internship at J Winery, Russian River. After graduating BS
Viticulture and Enology, he worked at Colgin Cellars for Ann and Joe Wender, Terra Valentine
Winery, Cliff Lede Vineyards in Stags Leap District and Pahlmeyer Winery. While Director of
Winemaking at Pahlmeyer, Kale became one of the youngest winemakers to earn 100 points from
Robert M. Parker, Jr. for the 2013 Pahlmeyer Cabernet Sauvignon Pièce de Résistance, the first
perfect score awarded to Pahlmeyer in their thirty year history. After fifteen vintages, Kale began
consulting in 2016.
In 2008, Kale and his wife Ranko set out to create Rhône inspired wines from extraordinary
vineyards in Northern California under their own label, Kale Wines. Specializing in small
production, handcrafted wines, Kale utilizes new technologies as well as ancient techniques to
express the unique vineyards’ most delicious characteristics.
Here are some of Kale’s winemaking philosophies:
“I make wine with my senses, and I use science to gauge risk.”
“Winemaking requires so many different skills. The real key is to understand your tools and use
them in gentle and respectful ways.”
“Make the wine the most beautiful expression of itself, then blend to harmonize the characters into
something more interesting than its parts.”