Having made a name for himself crafting critically acclaimed Cabernets and Zinfandels for his label Hobo Wine Company, Kenny Likitprakong created Folk Machine Wines as a home for his Pinot Noirs and a smattering of... Read More

Having made a name for himself crafting critically acclaimed Cabernets and Zinfandels for his label Hobo Wine Company, Kenny Likitprakong created Folk Machine Wines as a home for his Pinot Noirs and a smattering of wines from some of California’s more esoteric grapes. A former surf bum, Kenny spent his twenties drinking cheap Bordeaux and sleeping on beaches. He doesn't own vineyards, instead he sources grapes from 40 different vineyards along the Northern California coast, from Santa Cruz to Mendocino.

Sourcing fruit this way can have some negative effects on quality but Kenny does things a little differently. He plants and tends thousands of vines on 18 leased acres in Santa Cruz and Sonoma, and keeps a sharp eye on quality control everywhere else. “I see 15 to 20 vineyards a week during harvest. It’s important that the agricultural views of the people tending the vines line up with mine,” says Kenny. “If you have great grapes, you can still screw it up. But if you don't have great grapes, you're never going to turn them into gold.”

Like all of Kenny’s wines, the Folk Machine’s are nimble and approachable; a balancing act between sheer pleasure and complexity.