Winemaker Interview Series –Kale Anderson of Kale Wines – December 2025

On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, we interviewed Kale Anderson once again. This time we covered the wines that he makes for his own label, Kale Wines. We covered a Marsanne-and-Roussanne blend from the 2021 vintage. We then covered three 2021-vintage Chardonnay offerings from single vineyards. Next up was a 2021 Grenache-based wine and, finally, we wrapped up with a Syrah from the 2020 vintage. We met and interviewed Kale for the first time in October 2025 when we covered the Domaine de la Riviere wines that he makes. In this post, you will learn more about Kale, his brand, and all of these wines.

Before we get to the wines, I thought I would share some tidbits that Kale shared.

• Kale Anderson grew up in Santa Rosa.
  • Wine was not on the table growing up in his household.
  • Kale made friends with lots of vintner’s children.
    • His first job in Jr. High was washing barrels for the Bilbro family.
  • Kale attended UC Davis to pursue a pre-med program.
    • He discovered they had a wine program.
    • He also discovered all the hottest girls signed up for a wine tasting class. (Kale took that class all 4 years)
    • Meanwhile he also discovered he might like this major and changed from pre-med to winemaking.
  • Kale’s first internship was at J. Wine in 2001. Since they made sparkling wine their harvest was early, so he could get back to school for the fall semester. This internship sealed the deal. He was now bit by the winemaking bug.
  • After graduating with a BS in Viticulture and Enology, he worked at Colgin Cellars.
    • Mark Aubert was the winemaker and became a mentor.
    • He helped move the winery from a custom crush facility to their estate winery.
    • The experience was a crash course in what you can make if you are given all the right tools and resources.
  • Kale’s second job was at Terra Valentine Winery.
    • Phil Baxter (Sam’s brother) was Kale’s college roommate.
    • Kale as assistant winemaker here from 2003-2005
  • Kale’s next stop was at Cliff Lede Vineyards in the Stags Leap District from 2005-2012.
    • Here Kale help build the caves and the new winery.
    • They also replanted all the vineyards.
    • Kale hired Jason Moulton as an assistant winemaker. Jason is now the Director of Winemaking and Viticulture at Whitehall Lane Winery.
  • Kale then moved over to Pahlmeyer Winery in 2012 to become their Director of Winemaking.
    • While at Pahlmeyer, Kale became one of the youngest winemakers to earn 100 points from Robert M. Parker.
    • He helped expand the Jayson brand.
    • In 2015 the winery was sold to Gallo.
  • Kale wanted to get into consulting and after fifteen vintages, the sale to Gallo gave him the opportunity. Kale began consulting in 2016.
  • Kale has his own brand that he started with 3 barrels while working at Cliff Lede. He also consults for about 10-15 other clients.
  • Vineyard Tidbits
    • A18 (Antica Vineyard owned by the Antinori family) Kale started with this block at Pahlmeyer. It is next to Kongsgaard.
    • Ritchie Vineyard – Kale gets grapes from the old vine section. He is usually 1st or 2^nd to pick.
    • Hyde Vineyard – Kales has been close friends with Chris Hyde (Son of Larry) for 20 years. He gets the Montrachet and Clone 76 fruit from here.
  • Kale Wines are made at The Wine Foundry.

Below is a summary of the wine offerings from Kale Wines that we covered with Kale. The links below are to our full reviews. If you are interested in ordering and trying these wines, you will find some of these wines via your favorite fine wine shop or on top quality wines lists. You can also purchase these wines on the Kale Wines website.

1) Kale 2021 White Blend “Alder Springs Vineyard” (Mendocino County) $40 (KWGTP 91.5)
2) Kale 2021 Chardonnay  “A18” (Napa Valley) $75 (KWGTP 90.5)
3) Kale 2021 Chardonnay “Larry Hyde & Sons” (Carneros) $95 (KWGTP 93)
4) Kale 2021 Chardonnay “Ritchie Vineyard” (Russian River Valley) $95 (KWGTP 92.5)
5) Kale 2021 Red Blend “McGah Vineyard” (Rutherford) $75 (KWGTP 92.5)
6) Kale 2020 Syrah “Hyde Vineyard” (Carneros) $80 (KWGTP 93.5)

You can find reviews of past and future Kale Wines that we cover on the Kale Wines KWG winery page on our website. We hope you enjoy these terrific wines as much as we did. Cheers! – Ken