Helen Keplinger rejoins Kenzo Estate as Consulting Winemaker in 2025, having worked on the estate as a part of the initial winemaking team from 2005-2010, working with Heidi Barrett, David Abreu and Marc Nanes. Keplinger brings to Kenzo Estate an incredible depth of knowledge in winemaking, and her accolades include the 2023 “Winemaker of the Year” award from critic Antonio Galloni’s Vinous, which brought to light her attention to sustainability, terroir, the diversity in her wine programs and excellence in winemaking.
History & Philosophy: Keplinger completed a formal wine education at the University of California - Davis with a Masters in Enology. Through her work in Spain (Cellers Melis) with consultant Claude Gros, she was heavily influenced, "It is in the Priorat where I gained an enormous appreciation for minute changes in terroir and the results they imprint on the wines made from a particular site. That experience granted me a deep appreciation for terroir and terroir-focused wines. I find wines are more unique, nuanced, and captivating when they have a clear connection to a vineyard, sense of place, and hallmark of a vintage. Thoughtful work in the vineyard and winery translates to a pure expression of place in the wines. I continue to fine tune my winemaking practices, and better my understanding of each vineyard and its complexities, intending to best harness its true character each vintage. The craft of winemaking is a life-long journey of continual evolution and learning.”
Keplinger indeed brings to Kenzo Estate an incredible depth of knowledge in winemaking, and her accolades include the 2023 “Winemaker of the Year” award from critic Antonio Galloni’s Vinous, which brought to light her attention to sustainability, terroir, the diversity in her wine programs and excellence in winemaking.