Ken Fredrickson

Ken Fredrickson

Master Sommelier – Tenzing Wine And Spirits
Acclaimed Restaurateur
Lecturer
Mentor

Ken Fredrickson is a member of the elite international Court of Master Sommeliers and he currently operates an artisanal wine and spirits wholesaler in Chicago Illinois.

Fredrickson reached the ranks of Master Sommelier in 2000 following critical acclaim for his wine lists while working alongside world-renowned chefs Charlie Trotter, at Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago and Las Vegas and Wolfgang Puck, at Spago and Chinois.

Most recently, Fredrickson served as the Vice President of Wine Marketing and Sales for the Wirtz Beverage Group based in Chicago, the Wirtz Beverage Group is one the nation’s leading wine and spirit wholesalers with operations in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nevada and Wisconsin.

Previously he was founder and owner of Nevada Wine Agents that was brought into the Wirtz Beverage Group in 2005, Nevada Wine Agents is a boutique wine and liquor wholesale distributorship and serves as southern Nevada’s premier purveyor of fine wine.

Earlier in his career, Fredrickson opened critically acclaimed restaurants Koshu and Restaurant Terroir in Jackson, Wyoming and Adega Restaurant and Wine Bar in Denver. In 2002, Esquire magazine named Adega to the list of “Best New Restaurants” in the United States.

Fredrickson’s adventurous spirit and passion for food and drink have led to extensive international travel to the far corners of the world. He has established roots however on his vineyard in Mendoza, Argentina where he practices his trade each year with the harvest of both Chardonnay and Malbec varietals. Fredrickson’s Añoro Malbec and Añoro Chardonnay have most recently won accolades from the world’s prominent wine review publications rating them in their outstanding category.

His willingness to try anything has taken him from running a bungee jumping company to desert off-road adventure and track motorcycle racing. Ken enjoys collecting and drinking wine as well as collecting and riding motorcycles.

Fredrickson has been a host lecturer for the Taste of Vail and has served as a featured speaker at the Texas Sommelier Conference, Jackson Hole Wine Auction, and the Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival. Fredrickson has also judged several wine competitions and is currently the Vice Chairman of the Jackson Wine Auction.

As one of 100 Master Sommeliers in the United States and 5 in Chicago, Fredrickson has also served as an examiner for the prestigious certification and often mentors budding Sommeliers in the trade. He focuses his charitable efforts in Chicago with Children’s Oncology Services and their One Step at a Time programs.