Kenny Likitprakong
Kenny Likitprakong was raised in Sonoma, but never intended to enter the wine business. With dreams of being a hobo/poet, Kenny tramped through Europe and the western United States before being strangely drawn back to UC Davis to study winemaking.
Retaining the good and forgetting the bad that UC Davis teaches, Kenny made wine at a handful of small producers before striking out on his own, creating labels that defied convention and taking a Kenny-centric path. With the Banyan, Hobo, and Folk Machine labels, Kenny crafted Dry Riesling and balanced Gewurztraminer meant to go with the Thai cuisine he was raised on, small lot Pinot Noir made in a delicate, lifted style, weighty and meaningful Chenin Blanc. All things that the American wine market didn't realize it needed, but was painfully lacking.
When the idea for Compass Rose started to gain steam, there was no question that Kenny was the man for the job. His diligent work in finding great grape sources is paramount to the quality in Compass Rose wines. That, and the fact that Kenny would never do something like pick at 28 brix.
