Rudd Oakville Estate
Frederick AmmonsWinemakerA rising star in the wine industry, Frederick Ammons brings 15 years of experience to Rudd Oakville Estate. He previously served as winemaker for The Napa Valley Reserve, where he joined the team as their first winemaker in 2004. Formerly, he held positions at Seavey Vineyard, Plumpjack Winery, and Opus One Winery.
A fifth-generation Coloradoan raised on a farm, Frederick first became interested in wine during his undergraduate studies in Biology at the University of Colorado. Upon graduation, he enrolled in the University of Bordeaux, where he became the sixth American to complete the competitive Diplôme National d’Enologue from the prestigious Faculté d’Enologie. During the four years he lived in the region, Frederick worked at various chateaux, including Château Boutisse and Château Pape Clément, and studied the influences of seasonal variations on vintage and terroir.
“Rudd Oakville Estate has always stood out to me as one of the greatest vineyard terroirs I’ve seen,” said Frederick. “During my first experience working in Napa Valley, I noticed the red, rocky soils at Rudd Oakville Estate and imagined the great wine this site had the potential to produce. Twelve years later, I’m fortunate to work daily with this great terroir towards continuous improvement and realizing that potential with each new vintage.”
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