Author: Jeffrey Wheeler
Planning Unit: Horticulture
Major Program: Local Food Systems
Outcome: Long-Term Outcome
Will Mullett is now the head winemaker at Talon Winery in Lexington, KY. Will was previously an UK undergraduate student between 2010-2015. During this time he took classes in Enology and Viticulture and also completed an wine related internship working both at the UK Horticulture Research Farm (vineyard and winery) and also at Talon Winery. Will signed on to become the assistant winemaker at Talon Winery in 2014 and was quickly promoted to head winemaker in 2015. Will's experience at the University of Kentucky provided him with foundational skills necessary to enter this career path of commercial winemaking. Communication between Will and the UK Viticulture and Enology team continues via Extension workshops and site visits. Will has also served as a mentor to current and former UK students conducting their own internship experiences.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-mullett-432226169
Alexandra Tracy (Alex) followed a similar path in her journey to becoming a part of the Talon Winery team. Alex began her journey in the wine industry as a student worker at the University of Kentucky's South Farm. While working at the UK vineyard she helped to write a report on the effects of trellis system on yield and vine balance of Vignoles and Chambourcin wine grape cultivars. Alex was an intern for the 2018 Young Scholars Enhancement Project "Cover Crops Under Cover". She is also a University of Kentucky graduate with a B.S. in Plant and Soil Science and a Certificate in Distillation, Wine and Brewing. Since graduating from UK she has worked at Wise Bird Cider in Lexington, KY and now serves as the assistant winemaker at Talon Winery.
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