Aaron Kendall was born and raised in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Although it was a burgeoning wine region at the time, he possessed very little initial interest in the world of wine. It wasn't until he received the opportunity to travel to New Zealand for his first harvest experience in 2008, followed by a subsequent harvest in Oregon's Willamette Valley the following year, that his pursuits rose from an interest to a calling. After splitting his time between the northern and southern hemispheres during the ensuing vintages, he was offered a full-time position at Adelsheim here in the Chehalem Mountains. He rapidly rose through the ranks in the cellar, leading him to their head cellar position, which he held for the next four and a half years. It was during this time that he met Michael Etzel of Beaux Frères. In 2016 he joined the Beaux Frères team as the Assistant Winemaker and a short time later earned the title of Associate Winemaker. With a seven-vintage run making premium Oregon Pinot noir and Chardonnay, Aaron joined the Compris family as Head Winemaker and Viticulturist in 2023, where he will continue to hone his craft and broaden his skills with some unique Willamette Valley varietals.