Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/711666
{ SOMMjournal.com } 65 Kenwood's Sonoma County Range has completely revamped packaging. Kenwood's top tier Jack London range is named for the famous novelist who once owned the property. to explore the rich diversity of Sonoma County's appellations and their associated terroirs is to belly up to the bar at Kenwood Vineyards' tasting room in Kenwood, California, and sample what the winery has to offer. That's because since May, 2014, when Pernod Ricard assumed direction of this well-respected winery, it has focused on showcasing the county's regions and the best vineyards in those regions. There has been a sea-change in the winery's portfolio as it shifts toward super-premium bottlings. Before May, 2014, three of Kenwood's five categories were wines costing $12 a bottle or less, with wines in the $10–$12 range accounting for 92 percent of the volume. Now the plan is that by 2020, 80 percent of the portfolio will be devoted to wines priced from $12 to $35, with a Single Vineyard tier in the $35 to $50 range, and the flagship Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignons at $75. "We found that we had really interesting wines," says Kenwood's Chief Winemaker Pat Henderson of the label's super-premiumization, "but wanted to beef up our offerings to the consumer, both from an interesting perspective for on-premise and for when guests come to the winery for tastings." This brings the winery back toward the vision of founder Mike Lee, who, with a couple of family members, bought the old Pagani Brothers winery in 1970 and created Kenwood as a way to explore the best wines that flow from Sonoma County's many and varied climatic regions. Unlike most places in the world, where a relatively uniform climate extends over a wide area, Sonoma County is a jumble of many climates, soils and elevations. The coast is cold and often foggy, but has high ridges that lift Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines into the sunshine above the fog line. The Dry Creek Valley, north - west of Healdsburg, balances hot days with cool nights, yielding Zinfandels packed with spice and intensity. The easiest way THE STORIED SONOMA COUNTY WINERY CONTINUES TO Blaze New ails The new Six Ridges reserve tier refers to the six mountain ridges that run inland from the coast.