Kenny McMahon is the co-founder and winemaker of Arabilis. Kenny describes himself as obsessed with wine — if he’s not making it, he’s reading about it or listening to others share their knowledge. His fascination began at age 12 during a family trip to Napa, where he was first exposed to the world of wine and the craft behind it, leaving a lasting impression that continues to inspire his work today.
Born in Cincinnati and raised in Kentucky, Kenny studied biology at Centre College and went on to earn a PhD in food science from Washington State University, where his research focused on sparkling wine. His career has included roles in food innovation at Mondelez (Oreo, Ritz), sensory science at GSK, and currently UX research at Kroger — all while building Arabilis alongside his wife, Allison.
Arabilis reflects their shared love of farming, craftsmanship, and family. Kenny remains hands-on from vineyard to bottle, producing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and traditional method sparkling wine. He lives in Oregon with Allison and their daughter, Penelope, and draws inspiration from frequent visits to Champagne and the belief that “greatness has small beginnings.”
West Coast native Allison McMahon is the co-founder and CEO of Arabilis. Allison holds a B.S. in Biology from Santa Clara University and began her career on a PreMed track, working in healthcare and earning national EMT certification. A weekend wine tasting trip in Livermore, CA sparked a pivot, leading her to pursue a PhD in food science at Washington State University, where she studied wine chemistry and sensory science.
It was there she met her husband and Arabilis co-founder, Kenny McMahan, bonding over a shared passion for wine. Since then, Allison has held research roles at global food, healthtech, and tech companies while applying her analytical strengths to the growth of Arabilis—overseeing business operations and long-term vision.
She recently completed a two-year term as Treasurer of the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, and continues to champion Oregon’s wine community. Outside of work, Allison enjoys hiking, reading, game nights with friends, and time with Kenny and their daughter, Penelope. Her dream? To see Arabilis recognized among the world’s top sparkling producers—and earn a 100-point wine.
