Kenneth Rochford
Born and raised in the central Highlands of Scotland, Kenneth came to California as a cellar intern on the trail of winemaking legends whose bottles he’d encountered while working in a fine wine shop at University. This internship turned into a career and a life. He has worked in production, sales and marketing, and general management roles with a variety of wineries including Seghesio, Cirq and Kosta Browne. These experiences have instilled within him a deep sense of what makes wine brands compelling and relevant to their customers. He has used these skills to rebrand existing wineries as well as create new luxury brands, finding authenticity by placing a lens on the things that make these places truly special: the stories of land and people. He also has an understanding of how technology can play a role within this wine landscape and created, patented and launched the first online B2B system between wineries and out of state retailers.
In a quest to make wine more fun and accessible, he joined forces with Matthew to create West + Wilder. Their belief that wine in a can could be both delicious and luxurious was proved right. However, a surprise late stage cancer diagnosis in 2019 meant that he could no longer drink alcohol and the quest for seriously good NA wine began. As a cancer survivor, he is active within the local community as an advisor and peer mentor.
Kenneth also has a love of food and cooking. As a past board member for Slow Food and The Good Food Awards, he has been able to help promote the makers and farmers of northern California. He is a former board member of the Russian River Valley Winegrowers and currently serves on the board of Martinelli Winey and Flying Goat Coffee. He lives in West Sonoma County with his wife and son.
MA Joint honours. Ancient History and Classical Archaeology. University of Edinburgh. 1997
MSc. Information Technology. University of Stirling. 2001.
MATTHEW ALLAN
After relocating to Sonoma County to help establish Medlock Ames, a sustainable wine business. Matthew immersed himself in all aspects of the venture, from vineyard operations to strategic marketing. This experience solidified a passion for creating impactful brands and sustainability-driven solutions.
With a foundation in marketing at small firms, serving major clients like HP, Matthew returned to school to pursue a Green MBA, learning the importance of cradle to cradle and full-systems thinking. This milestone sparked an interest in startups, leading to roles in innovative industries. At Lucid Energy, a micro-hydro power company, Matthew spearheaded business development and marketing efforts. Later, as part of Enphase Energy, a solar technology company, he played a pivotal role in product marketing, driving initiatives through an IPO and managing global product launches.
Returning to the wine industry, Mathew joined forces with his best friend Kenneth Rochford to disrupt and redefine the wine industry.
Matthew combines entrepreneurial spirit, marketing expertise, and a commitment to sustainability, bringing a unique perspective to every project they undertake.
When not hanging with his friend, Matthew is somewhere outside with his wife and kids, enjoying the beauty of Sonoma County. He also serves as a board member on Give Lively Foundation, a fund raising platform for non-profit organizations.
MBA, Sustainable Business Management. Presidio Graduate School. 2016
Bachelor’s of Science, Marketing Communication. Emerson College. 2000
