Planting Roots
Lee Hudson (pictured here with wife Cristina) planted 200 acres of vines between 1981 and 2004. He only sold grapes to 35 different wineries before deciding to start estate bottling in 2004.
(All photos courtesy Hudson Ranch.)
Lee and Cristina Hudson make an awesome team. Lee describes the opportunity as, “It is a great blessing to be in business with your wife — to be successful and have fun! It is rewarding in both business and friendship.” The Hudsons own and operate Hudson Ranch, a 1,000-acre property, 200 acres of which are planted to grapevines — widely regarded as one of the finest vineyards in Carneros, if not all of California. But this is much more than a vineyard; it is the manifestation of a dream, a family, and a philosophy about how people can be connected to the land.
Lee admits to always having been an “agrarian.” Born in Houston, Texas, he fell in love with agriculture at a young age. After earning his undergraduate degree in horticulture at the University of Arizona, he traveled to Burgundy, France, to study viticulture and landed at the famed Domaine Dujac, where Jacques Seysses became his mentor. He returned to the U.S. and graduated from UC Davis with a degree in viticulture and enology. In 1981, he purchased a 1,000-acre swathe of virtually wild land that would become
his life’s work. Cristina describes it more like “a blank slate where Lee created something special.” Between 1981 and 2004, Lee planted 200 acres of vines and built the infrastructure and buildings. Initially, he only sold grapes to 35 different wineries — many of them top names in the industry — before finally starting estate bottling in 2004. Cristina continues, “He has dedicated his life to this one place with his vision.” That vision, which Lee calls his “agrarian dream,” was to create a place where people work together with the land to create something they can share.
In this case, it’s wine — but Hudson Ranch also produces a host of other organic fruits and vegetables for the local community, sold at Greens & Goods at the Oxbow Market in downtown Napa. This side of the business came to be through Cristina’s vision and skill. The underlying philosophy remains: to treat the land and the people with respect and dignity.
Where Lee’s strengths lie in grape production and horticulture, branding and sales were never his forte. Sixteen years ago, they met for the first time through a mutual friend, Andy Erickson (the superstar winemaker behind Arietta, Leviathan, Dalla Valle, and Screaming Eagle, to name a few). Three years later, Lee and Cristina were married.
With a background in branding, strategy, and team building, Lee credits Cristina for “building a great brand and organization” at Hudson Ranch. Cristina, originally from El Paso, Texas, received her B.A. in East Asian Studies from Middlebury College in Vermont and a graduate degree in Japanese from Keio University in Japan. Her time in Japan’s hospitality industry, combined with her Mexican heritage, helped shape a unique aesthetic. To her, “Hudson Ranch is more than a product — it’s a place, a philosophy, and a purpose.”
Today, Hudson Ranch employs almost 60 people, many of whom have been there for over 30 years. They recently celebrated their first retiree after 44 years of service. The Hudsons provide college scholarships for employees’ families and subsidized housing. They always ask themselves, “How is this decision going to impact the land and our people?” This commitment
to stewardship — of both land and people — and their uncompromising standards in making estate wines have brought rewards in many forms, including critical acclaim. In fact, at the time of writing, their 2022 Hudson “Seashell” Chardonnay received a perfect 100-point rating from Lisa Perotti- Brown, MW.
Cristina’s older sister was an avid windsurfer and spent much of her time in Hawai‘i. Since she was 13, Cristina would spend summers in Lanikai on the windward side of O‘ahu. As her love for Asian culture grew, so did her visits to the University of Hawai‘i East Asian Center. She also spent time on Kaua‘i, but Lanikai remained her first love. “There’s something electric in the air. The aloha spirit is alive,” says Cristina. “There’s also a cultural orientation toward the East, toward
Asia.” Lee had never been to Hawai‘i until Cristina brought him. “The spirit of Hawai‘i and its people has a very international sense, especially on O‘ahu. They are so accommodating and embrace culture. It’s so unique! I don’t feel like an outsider.”
This connection eventually led them to purchase a property in Lanikai with a simple house that had what they describe as “good energy” — previously owned by Dr. George F. Straub, founder of Straub Medical Center. With a big family, they plan to spend a lot of time in Hawai‘i and look forward to creating connections within the community, sharing their passion for the land and its bounty — vinous and otherwise.
Cristina’s inspiration comes from travel, from seasonality, and from “the boundless generosity of the earth.” She sees the planet as a wellspring of energy and art. Lee finds his inspiration in “excellence — doing things better. Striving for excellence, and doing it with care, respect, and dignity.”
It’s clear that this husband-and-wife duo have blended their inspirations and love for each other into something truly special: a community, a philosophy, and a dream come to life at Hudson Ranch. I look forward to seeing their presence and influence grow in the Hawai‘i community.
