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Pat Henderson, Chief Winemaker at Kenwood wines is quite a hoot! A few weeks back, he visited Ellen's, and Joe got a chance to sit down and learn more about his fascinating career and his deep love of wine. Pat has produced a staggering amount of the wine consumed globally over the last 35 + years, with more than 30 vintages. He is a legend in his field, and few people know more about Sonoma winemaking than Pat Henderson.
Interestingly enough, Pat started his career at Kenwood, while completing his degree in Viticulture and Enology in the summer of 1983. After graduation he worked in both the Napa and Sonoma valleys before taking his first position as head winemaker in the Russian River Valley of Washington State. Pat enjoyed his stint in Washington, but in 2003 he headed home to Sonoma and rejoined the Kenwood team as winemaker. Under the mentorship of the legendary Mike Lee, the original Kenwood winemaker, Pat learned the art of small-lot winemaking. Pat became chief winemaker of Kenwood Vineyards in 2015, where he continues to carefully craft wines with unique characteristics.