Kathryn Kennedy (July 28, 1927 – August 23, 2009) was a

California wine California wine production has a rich viticulture history since 1680 when Spanish Jesuit missionaries planted ''Vitis vinifera'' vines native to the Mediterranean region in their established missions to produce wine for religious services. I ...

grower, establishing her vineyard during the growth phase in the California wine history known as "The Wine Boom of the early 1970s". While not the first woman winemaker ( Zelma Long and others), Kennedy was one of the first owners of a brand to bear a woman's name in

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

, and one who came to the scene independent of the young women graduates of the University of California-Davis.

Early life

Born 1927, Kennedy moved from Santa Cruz to

Santa Clara Valley The Santa Clara Valley is a geologic trough in Northern California that extends 90 miles (145 km) south–southeast from San Francisco to Hollister. The longitudinal valley is bordered on the west by the Santa Cruz Mountains and on the east ...

at the age of 15, earning a degree from Stanford University at the age of 19. Married, and with the first of her four children, Kathryn moved to her Saratoga property in 1949 where she later decided to plant a vineyard.C. Fallis, editor ''The Encyclopedic Atlas of Wine'' pg 93 Global Book Publishing 2006 In preparation for planting her , she attended two semesters of the

viticulture Viticulture (from the Latin word for '' vine'') or winegrowing (wine growing) is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. It is a branch of the science of horticulture. While the native territory of '' Vitis vinifera'', the common grape vine, ...

program at University of California, Davis. There she was advised to plant Cabernet Sauvignon on her property. This recommendation was based not only on the "Region Two"

climate classification Climate classifications are systems that categorize the world's climates. A climate classification may correlate closely with a biome classification, as climate is a major influence on life in a region. One of the most used is the Köppen climate ...

for her land in Saratoga, but also on the market projections that were held during the late 1960s.

Viticulture and winemaking activities

In planting her vineyard, Kennedy had Clone #8 cuttings sourced from David Bruce Vineyards developed for one year in an on-site nursery before planting in 1973. After selling fruit for two vintages to Mount Eden Vineyards in Saratoga, Kathryn established her brand and winery in 1979. Her adviser and first winemaker was Bill Anderson, who went on to be the longstanding winemaker at Chateau Julien in Carmel Valley AVA. From 1979 until 1988 Kathryn's winery produced only Estate Cabernet. Joining the process after the survey work of

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and David Bennion, Kennedy contributed to modifying the boundaries of the

Santa Cruz Mountains AVA The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA is an American Viticultural Area centered on the Santa Cruz Mountains. Its territory expands three California counties, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Mateo. Established in 1981 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and ...

, which was created in 1981. She successfully sought to include her land in this new appellation in order to be associated with the premium wine producers of this region.

Death

Kennedy died August 23, 2009, at home surrounded by her family, after a long battle with

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

Winery

Kathryn Kennedy Winery is a small winery located in Saratoga, California. It is located on of land in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains near

Silicon Valley Silicon Valley is a region in Northern California that serves as a global center for high technology and innovation. Located in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area, it corresponds roughly to the geographical areas San Mateo Coun ...

. Kathryn Kennedy Winery produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sauvignon blanc, and a Lateral blend. Kennedy left the winery in the hands of her youngest son Marty Mathis, who has been winemaker since 1981.A. Domine (ed.) ''Wine'', pp. 830, Ullmann Publishing, 2008 In 2003 production was expanded to include a 4000 case red blend named Lateral made in

Napa Valley Napa Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Napa County in California's Wine Country. It was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) on January 27, 1981. Napa Valley is considered one of the premier ...

as well as a Sauvignon blanc made from organic grapes. The Estate Vineyard was certified organic in time for the 2007

vintage Vintage, in winemaking, is the process of picking grapes and creating the finished product—wine (see Harvest (wine)). A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year. In certa ...

References

External links