Kyle Kuklewski brings a decade of experience and farm-to-table fare to the new winery in Glen Ellen
SONOMA, CA (Jan 12, 2021) – Bundschu Company is excited to welcome Chef Kyle Kuklewski as Executive Chef of Abbot’s Passage Winery & Mercantile (777 Madrone Road, Glen Ellen, CA), a new experiential winery inspired by the path less traveled, located in the heart of Sonoma Valley. Kuklewski will be responsible for developing, launching, and executing the culinary program at the winery.
“It’s an honor to be joining the team at Abbot’s Passage,” says Executive Chef, Kyle Kuklewski. “I have a deep love and appreciation for this region and my community. The Bundschu family has been an integral part of this place for 160 years. I’m excited to curate a classically Sonoman culinary experience for our guests while showcasing the bounty of thoughtful, locally sourced, sustainable ingredients from nearby farms and other small businesses in Sonoma.”
Kuklewski will work closely alongside proprietor and sixth-generation vintner Katie Bundschu to develop menus and seasonal wine country fare that accentuate Abbot’s Passage Rhone-inspired, small production wines. Beginning in Spring 2022, guests can reserve a “Field Table Experience”- a private, elevated food pairing and wine tasting that takes place in vineyard tables among the estate’s centerpiece block of 80-year-old Zinfandel vines. Guests will be able to enjoy other culinary offerings and experiences on property—whether while enjoying bottle service at picnic tables in the olive grove, relaxing in Adirondack chairs, or playing Shuffleboard among the vines. A culinary garden will also be added to the property to ensure and enhance seasonality and sustainability, and Kuklewski looks forward to expanding upon selective retail and food items available to shop in the pantry and mercantile.
“Here at Abbot’s Passage, we pride ourselves on our adventurous and exploratory spirit—and believe Kyle will bring this aspect to our food program and beyond,” says Katie Bundschu, Proprietor of Abbot’s Passage Winery & Mercantile. “As a fellow Sonoma Valley local, Kyle understands the beauty of this region and has a true passion for our hospitality community here, we’re so excited to welcome him to the team.”
Born and raised in Texas, Kuklewski made his way to Pennsylvania for college and culinary school at Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He honed his skills with the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts at properties across two different states and held roles throughout restaurants, catering, and pastry departments. After his time at Sonoma Mission Inn & Resort, Kuklewski began working at Ramekins in Sonoma. His responsibilities there encompassed all public and private offerings, including weddings and catering, the culinary school, and recipe & menu development for all. Following his tenure with Ramekins, he launched a pay-it-forward food program, “A Simple Gesture,” feeding private clients throughout Sonoma. As a result of this program, he strengthened his passion for community-building through food and found his way to Abbot’s Passage, where he will continue to build upon the Bundschu family’s 160+-year-long legacy in Sonoma Valley.
Abbot’s Passage Winery & Mercantile is open Thursday through Monday from 11 AM–5 PM and is a family-friendly and dog-friendly property. Reservations are encouraged and can be made online through Tock via the website. Abbot’s Passage Winery & Mercantile offers several venues available for private events, weddings and experiences, contact events@abbotspassage.com for pricing and more information.
About Abbot’s Passage Winery & Mercantile:
Abbot’s Passage Winery & Mercantile is an experiential winery inspired by the path less traveled. Field-driven blending and co-fermentation are at the core of every bottle, with grapes sourced from storied and unexpected vineyard sites throughout Sonoma and beyond. Located on a historic property in the heart of Glen Ellen and nestled between rows of 80-year-old vines, Abbot’s Passage provides a lively wine country discovery where wandering minds and adventurous spirits can taste, explore and play. Abbot’s Passage is part of the Bundschu Company family. For more information, follow APWM on Instagram, Facebook or visit online at: www.abbotspassage.com
About Bundschu Company:
For six generations, Sonoma’s family-owned Bundschu Company has been producing quality wine and creating dynamic experiences. Since 1858, the company has operated with wine at the center of everything they do and has embodied the belief that quality wine need not be divided from experience, but that one enhances–and connects–the other. Since then, the multigenerational company has deliberately grown a curated portfolio of wineries and brands that each uniquely embody that spirit, including Gundlach Bundschu, Abbot’s Passage, Towle Wine Company, and Huichica Music Festival. While the Bundschu Company honors the family’s legacy, the quest for the future by cultivating a diverse business at the intersection of top-tier wine and experiences, investing in innovation and sustainable practices, and championing the next generation of diverse leaders. For more information, please visit www.bundschu.com.
