Ken Foster

Ken Foster is no stranger to California Pinot Noir. He came to Carneros Creek following 15 years in production and winemaking at the highly-regarded David Bruce Winery in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains.

Hailing from Berkeley, California, Ken had no formal winemaking training before David Bruce hired him to work crush in 1987. But after undergraduate studies in geology sparked an interest in translating the characteristics of a particular geological site into wine, before long Foster found himself immersed in the world of viticulture, winemaking and Pinot Noir. While working his way through various production positions up to Winemaker at David Bruce, Foster was able to help shift the winery’s focus to small-lot production - emphasizing gentle handling techniques and the separate vinification of distinct wine lots to establish the vineyard designate and appellation-specific wine program. Cutting his winemaking teeth on as many as fifty different Pinot Noir vineyards in a variety of appellations over those years, Foster developed a deep understanding of this varietal and of effective blending - just as Carneros Creek founder Francis Mahoney had done in his clonal research twenty years earlier.

"Ken Foster was the perfect choice to take Carneros Creek Pinot Noir to the next level," says Francis Mahoney. "Ken’s depth of experience with California Pinot speaks directly to our goal of continuous improvement in exceptional winemaking."

Since joining forces with Mahoney Vineyards in 2002, Foster has shifted production to small, open-top fermenters, new oak barrel regimes and small lot vinification. He works primarily with the Carneros vineyards developed and owned by Mahoney, as well as a few other vineyards that are under contract. “I am enjoying the chance to focus on and learn about the unique characteristics of a single appellation – Carneros,” says Foster. “Because the majority of the vineyards are within 15 minutes of one another, I can easily stay on top of things as they develop throughout the growing season. And I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Francis Mahoney who has pioneered so much of the development of Carneros Pinot Noir as well as fostering a commitment to quality by the Carneros District itself.”