Jackson Family Wines
| Company type | Private family-operated company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Wine production |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | Jess Stonestreet Jackson Jr. |
| Headquarters | Santa Rosa, California , United States |
Area served | United States, France, Italy, Australia, Chile, South Africa |
Key people | Banke (surname only given) |
| Products | Wine (40 brands including Kendall-Jackson) |
Jackson Family Wines, based in Santa Rosa, California, ranks as the ninth-largest wine producer in the United States, with annual sales reaching 6 million cases. This family-operated enterprise oversees a portfolio of 40 brands, sourcing grapes from vineyards located in California, Oregon, Bordeaux (France), Tuscany (Italy), Australia, Chile, and South Africa. It manages 50,000 acres domestically, boasting the most extensive coastal vineyard holdings across California and Oregon. Its premier label is Kendall-Jackson.
Early history
The origins of the company date back to 1974 when founder Jess Stonestreet Jackson Jr. acquired an 80-acre orchard in Northern California and began cultivating grapevines. Officially established in 1982, Jackson Family Wines launched its inaugural vintage of Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay in 1983.
Growth followed a calculated path through acquisitions and winery developments: Tepusquet Vineyard (Santa Maria Valley) and Cambria Winery were added in 1986; Stonestreet Winery (Alexander Valley) joined in 1989; expansion into Sonoma and Mendocino counties also occurred that year, with further extension into central and southern coastal California regions by 1991. The purchase of La Crema winery (Windsor) took place in 1993, followed by the acquisition of Tenuta di Arceno in Tuscany in 1994.
Additional expansion included acquiring Alexander Mountain Estate in 1995, Liparita Vineyard (later renamed W.S. Keyes Vineyard) in 1996, founding Carmel Road Winery (Monterey) in 1997, launching Vérité (Sonoma) in 1998, and acquiring El Maitén estate in Chile by 1999. These initiatives demonstrate a focused approach to product diversification and international growth.
Expansion
The company’s global expansion commenced around 2000 with the purchase of Australia's Eringa Park vineyard, subsequently renamed Yangarra Estate Vineyard, along with Matanzas Creek Winery in Sonoma Valley. In 2003, Jackson Family Wines entered the Bordeaux region through acquiring Château Lassègue. Later acquisitions encompassed La Jota Vineyard Co. (2005) and several Alexander Valley wineries—including Byron Winery, Freemark Abbey, Arrowood, and Murphy-Goode Estate Winery—in 2006.
In 2011, diversification efforts included inoculating its orchard with Périgord truffle spores, resulting in a harvest of 17 truffles by 2017. Further Australian acquisitions involved Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard in 2012; that same year saw additions of Ramal West Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast and Richard's Grove alongside Saralee's Vineyard.
The Jess S. Jackson Sustainable Winery Building was inaugurated at the University of California, Davis in 2013 after a $3 million donation from the family aimed at advancing sustainable technology. That year also marked the establishment of Capensis winery in South Africa’s Western Cape region and acquisitions such as Yverdon vineyard within Napa’s Spring Mountain District AVA and Zena Crown Vineyard located in Yamhill, Oregon. Gran Moraine Winery was launched there in 2014.
The portfolio broadened further with the acquisition of Siduri and Novy Family Wines in 2015; notably, Siduri represented the first purchase without accompanying vineyards. In 2016, Jackson Family Wines added Penner-Ash Wine Cellars and WillaKenzie Estate in Oregon as well as Copain Wines from Healdsburg, California, and Field Stone Winery situated within Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley.
In 2017, plans for a new Oregon winery were announced. The Culinary Institute of America at Copia honored the family by renaming its amphitheater the Jackson Family Wines Amphitheater following a $2 million donation. That same year, the company was recognized with the Luther Burbank Conservation Award for its sustainability initiatives. In May 2017, Jackson Family Wines acquired Brewer-Clifton—including its Diatom label—along with 60 acres of vineyards plus a winery and tasting room located in Lompoc, California; Brewer-Clifton had been founded by Greg Brewer and Steve Clifton in 1995. Banke received Wine Spectator’s Distinguished Service Award that year for her exemplary leadership.
Following the devastating Northern California wildfires of October 2017, Jackson Family Wines contributed to relief efforts by sponsoring the Homes for Sonoma initiative during 2018.
Regenerative farming
Jackson Family Wines is committed to converting all of its estate vineyards to regenerative agricultural practices by the year 2030. To minimize reliance on chemical pesticides, the company utilizes natural predators such as owls and falcons. Crop health is monitored using drones that assess moisture levels, nutrient status, and detect irrigation leaks. Grape pressings are composted and reintegrated into the soil to improve its ability to retain water. In reaction to drought challenges, the winery cultivates vines with deeper root systems that demand less water. Furthermore, Jackson Family Wines oversees PVC piping systems that release water into Green Valley Creek, aiding the preservation of endangered coho salmon habitats.