Randall Grahm
Randall Grahm | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1953 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Winemaker |
| Known for | Founder of Bonny Doon Vineyard; introducing Rhône grape varieties to California; advocating screw caps on high-end wines; promoting terroir-driven and biodynamic viticulture |
| Notable work | Le Cigare Volant wine; Been Doon So Long: A Randall Grahm Vinthology |
Randall Grahm is a winemaker based in California and the founder of Bonny Doon Vineyard. He is widely recognized for introducing Rhône grape varieties to the California wine scene and for advocating the use of screw caps on high-end wines. Grahm has been a strong proponent of clear ingredient disclosure and is a leading supporter of terroir-driven wines as well as biodynamic viticulture methods.
Biography
Born in 1953 in Los Angeles, Grahm pursued his education at UC Santa Cruz before gaining experience at the Wine Merchant in Beverly Hills, where his interest in French wines deepened. He earned a degree in Plant Sciences from UC Davis in 1979, with a concentration on Pinot Noir cultivation.
With assistance from his family, Grahm acquired land in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Bonny Doon, with the vision of crafting what he called "The Great American Pinot Noir." After encountering difficulties growing Pinot Noir initially, he shifted focus to Rhône varieties, debuting his signature wine Le Cigare Volant in 1986. By 1989, he appeared on the cover of Wine Spectator magazine labeled as "The Rhône Ranger," solidifying his reputation as a pioneer in this specialized field.
In 1991, he was included in Cook's Illustrated Who's Who of Cooking in America and had the asteroid "4934 Rhôneranger" named in his honor. The James Beard Foundation awarded him the title Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year in 1994.
Grahm regularly delivers presentations to wine industry professionals and contributes articles to various trade publications. His collected essays were published in the acclaimed Been Doon So Long: A Randall Grahm Vinthology (2009). In 2010, he was inducted into The Culinary Institute of America's Vintner's Hall of Fame. He lives in Santa Cruz with his partner Chinshu and their daughter.
Currently, Grahm operates The Language of Yes winery, which manages vineyards situated in Santa Maria.