Today we’d like to introduce you to Akhil Reddy.
Hi Akhil, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I appreciate the opportunity to share my journey with Reddy Vineyards. I was born and raised in Lubbock, the land of beautiful sunsets, red soil, dust storms, and serene horizons. Our area of West Texas is considered a major farming region in the USA which attracted my parents to move there in the 1970’s. My father, a PhD in soil and plant science is in the farming business and thus I grew up helping him around our cotton, peanut, and produce farms. In 1997, he planted his first grapevines and Reddy Vineyards was established. I have fond and proud memories of my sister and I training the first baby grapevines at Reddy Vineyards. Meanwhile, my parents pushed me to go into a doctorate field due to farming being such a tough path. I chose dentistry due to the attention to detail, direct patient care, engineering, and artistry. I left Texas to pursue my undergraduate and dental school degrees in San Francisco, California. Fortunately I was able to immerse myself in the wonderful world of northern California wine which was mainly Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley, and Lodi. Immediately after graduating, I moved back to Texas. I started practicing dentistry in 2008 and re-joined our family wine business. At that time we were exclusively growing grapes for other wineries. I took many viticulture classes and completed the UC Davis School of Business Wine Executive Program. About five years ago, I decided to build the Reddy Vineyards estate winery to expand on the award-winning Reddy Vineyards grapes. With the help of an innovative team which includes my family, advisors, Eric Sigmund-Sommelier, Lood Kotze-Winemaker, and our vineyard team we are now a full-fledged winery with 20 different red and white wines in our portfolio. Our wine is distributed throughout Texas to major retail, fine dining, and fine wine shops. We also have one of the best wine clubs which grants exclusive wines and amazing prices direct to consumer. Thankfully our wines have become very popular in Austin and Texas Hill Country restaurants, wine bars, and wine retail. Reddy Vineyards also continues our legacy of selling luxury wine grapes to upwards of 20 different wineries in the Texas Hill Country every year. Stay tuned for a huge milestone as 2022 is Reddy Vineyards 25th Anniversary!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
That is really funny because business, farming, and smooth do not belong in the same sentence! In our line of work, weather plays an enormous role in that every year is unpredictable with wine grape growing. So risk management is everything and holding to sound strategies. Another struggle in any business is finding the best team members for your mission. They have to share our vision, passion and believe in our relentless pursuit of bringing fine Texas wine to the world. Texas is the underdog in the world of wine and we have a complicated journey ahead. It took a while, but I’ve been very fortunate that my small team are some of the hardest working and brilliant minds I’ve worked with which includes my very talented wife. Many people said we couldn’t do what we have done and I don’t blame them. There are so many hurdles including financing, supply chain, staffing, distribution, market strategy, and just ensuring family time is never compromised. It has definitely not been a smooth road but it’s been an exciting one.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I believe and feel we are artists. We have a passion for farming wine grapes and always pushing the status quo. That is why we are considered industry leaders in wine grape growing in Texas. For our winery I spent a couple of years designing our wine program, branding, and packaging. It was vital to me that we represent Texas in the serene, premium luxury, world-class terroir, genuine personality that it is. You can see that in our labels. Our Reddy Vineyards star embossed in copper foil points west to west Texas. The cut of our label is the silhouette of our winery barn in sunset. The minimalist and textured label paper gives the feel of the west Texas horizon. We even print in the blocks where the fruit comes from for that bottle of wine on the label. Reddy Vineyards is known for expert wine grape growing and award-winning wine. We do this all as a family business and that’s what I am most proud of.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I consider myself very fortunate to be from Texas and to be in a family wine business. My parents made the ultimate sacrifice to leave India and immigrate to the USA for a better life in the 1960’s. They gave my three sisters and I an infinite amount of opportunities. That being said, some of my parents’ greatest teachings were very simple: to respect others and always work hard. They led by example and we were very lucky to follow suit. Regarding business, I have definitely had bad luck but I think all business owners experience those hurdles. What I have learned over the years is that luck should be placed in the background. Following best practices and understanding risk is where your focus should be.
Pricing:
- The Superior Texan (Sangiovese) $45
- TNT (Tempranillo) Red Blend $40
- Cabernet Sauvignon $75
- Wine Club Membership $75-400/ quarter with perks
- Grand Vitis (French style Red Blend) $20
Contact Info:
- Email: info@reddyvineyards.com
- Website: https://www.reddyvineyards.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reddyvineyards/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReddyVineyards
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOsrTGMg0YdpNFvNXR7jJCA
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/reddy-vineyards-brownfield
Image Credits:
Fawn Furlow
