Kip Summers
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Kip Summers began his wine making career in 1991 while he was a road musician. While on tour in Napa Valley, Kip discovered his passion for wine, the mystery of the grape and his desire to learn more about the vintage process. Between tours, Kip found time to plant his own small vineyard and he began making wine at home. When he was not traveling, he would spend time at Beachaven Winery in Clarksville, TN, asking owner Ed Cooke every question he could imagine. In 1994, after several years of studying wine industry textbooks and dreaming of working at a winery, Ed invited Kip to join Beachaven Winery as the assistant winemaker. Soon, Kip was the chief winemaker, creating over 15 different varieties of wine, 3 champagnes and a port. Throughout his 14 years as winemaker, Kip amassed numerous awards including winning the Homer Blitch Award (for service to the Tennessee Wine Industry) and the William O. Beach Award (Best Tennessee Wine) three times. With a desire to further develop the grape-growing and wine industries in Tennessee, Kip became involved in the political world of wine production. In 2006, Kip authored the 2006 Tennessee State Viticulture Plan for the Governor’s Viticultural Advisory Board. He spearheaded a 2005-2006 legislative effort (including hours of research regarding wine law in TN and the surrounding states) which resulted in the elimination of a maximum sales limit at TN wineries. Kip also worked with the Tennessee Farm Wineries Association to create the “Wines of the South” Wine Competition. After a decade of work at Beachaven, Kip began to dream of having his own winery in Williamson County. In 2005, the partners purchase 40 acres of land just south of Nashville in Arrington, TN. After many years of hard work, politics and construction, Arrington Vineyards opened on July 1, 2007. Kip, a native of Texas, lives in Brentwood with his wife Valerie and their two daughters Mackenzie (13 years) and Riley (10 years) and their labrador dog, Sam. |
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