My name is Ryan Kennedy, and I am the wine director at Bodega. You might look at me and think, “what does this kid know about wine?” Well, if you’ve ever heard me talk about wine, you’ll know I never shut up about it. I’ve recently completed the Court of Master Sommeliers Introductory Course, and I’m working towards Certified Sommelier. Join me on my journey by exploring my ever-evolving wine list!

Speaking of my wine list, it might not look like most in this area because my goal has always been to showcase family owned and operated, small production vineyards. Taking a stroll through the grocery store can pretty much tell you which wines I choose not to carry here (with some exceptions, of course). Do I think all of the grocery store wines are bad? Absolutely not! Although, there’s a ton of amazing, small production wines that don’t get a chance to shine because they’re overlooked for Caymus, Prisoner, Frank Family, etc..

Another aspect of my wine list revolves around where the wines come from. Again, there’s so many delicious, non-domestic wines that get overlooked for California wines. A perfect example of this is Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Most places you’ll only find domestic examples of these varieties, but some of the best examples in the world come from Burgundy in France. Sure, most people that have an idea about wine know that, but my goal is to bring everyone to that basic level of understanding. Once you understand the basics, the world of wine is so much more interesting and fun.

Join me on Tuesdays for my weekly wine tastings, or catch on me on the floor almost every night. I’m always more than happy to chat about wine and answer any questions you may have. Hey, maybe you could teach me something yourself!

Cheers!