Jess Stonestreet Jackson Jr.
Jess Stonestreet Jackson Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 February 1930 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Died | 21 April 2011 (aged 81) |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, winemaker, lawyer, thoroughbred racing owner |
| Known for | Founder of Kendall-Jackson wine company; owner of champion thoroughbred Curlin |
Jess Stonestreet Jackson Jr. (February 18, 1930 – April 21, 2011) was a prominent American billionaire known for his ventures in the wine industry, legal profession, horse racing, and business. Alongside his first wife, Jane Kendall Jackson, he established the Kendall-Jackson wine enterprise. In 1974, the couple acquired an 80-acre orchard in Lakeport, California, originally planted with pears and walnuts, which they transformed into a vineyard. By 2010, their Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay had become one of the leading wines in the market.
Early life and education
Raised during the hardships of the Great Depression in San Francisco’s Sunset District, Jackson experienced financial challenges early on. His father, who worked as an educator, endured several spells of unemployment, prompting Jackson to take on various jobs from a young age to help support his family. He completed his studies at Abraham Lincoln High School and later earned a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley. During his academic years, he supported himself by working as a dockworker, a police officer, and an ambulance driver. After graduating in 1951, he began practicing law with a focus on real estate.
Wine production
In the late 1950s, Jackson launched a law practice in San Francisco specializing in property rights and was instrumental in founding the American California Trial Lawyers Association. During the 1970s, he also co-founded Decimus, a company that leased IBM mainframe computers to businesses.
In 1974, Jackson and Jane Kendall bought an 80-acre orchard in Lakeport that they converted into vineyards cultivating Chardonnay and other grape varieties. Initially focused on selling grapes to other producers, Jackson moved into winemaking himself in 1981 due to a decline in grape prices. His goal was to create wines that combined quality with affordability. The inaugural Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay was released in 1983 and earned the first-ever Platinum Award from the American Wine Competition.
Following his divorce from Jane Kendall in the early 1980s, Jackson married Barbara Banke, who played a significant role in managing their growing wine enterprise. Together they expanded their holdings to about 25,000 acres across California, with roughly 14,000 acres dedicated to vineyards.
In 1992, Jackson successfully defended a lawsuit preventing his former winemaker from revealing the recipe for Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay. Conversely, in 1997 he lost litigation against E & J Gallo Winery over alleged label infringement.
By 2009, Jackson Family Wines encompassed brands such as Kendall-Jackson, Murphy-Goode, and Robert Pecota Winery. It ranked as the ninth largest winery holding company in the United States and produced five million cases annually at the time of Jackson’s passing.
In 2005, Forbes listed him tied for 366th among the world’s wealthiest individuals with assets valued at $1.8 billion; by 2010 his ranking shifted to 536th with an estimated net worth of $1.9 billion.
Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay
Introduced in 1982 with an initial production of 16,000 cases, Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay quickly gained recognition by winning the inaugural Platinum Award from the American Wine Competition in 1983—coinciding with growing American enthusiasm for Chardonnay.
This wine played a pivotal role in establishing Chardonnay as the most favored grape variety among U.S. consumers and remains the best-selling wine made from this varietal nationwide.
In 2007, Ray Isle of Food and Wine Magazine included Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay among his "50 Wines You Can Always Trust." Furthermore, People Magazine highlighted that Barack Obama owned a bottle of this notable chardonnay.
Vintner's Hall of Fame
In recognition of his impactful influence on the wine sector, Jess Jackson was honored with induction into the Vintner's Hall of Fame in 2009. That induction class also featured notable figures such as winemaker Warren Winiarski, whose Stag's Leap Cabernet Sauvignon gained fame by winning the 1976 Judgment of Paris. Additionally, the Beringer Brothers, who played a pivotal role in positioning Napa Valley as a distinguished grape cultivation area, were recognized alongside him.
Thoroughbred racing
Jackson took majority ownership of the champion thoroughbred Curlin in 2007, a horse that triumphed in both the Preakness Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Classic during that year. The following year, Curlin claimed victory in the $6 million Dubai World Cup. For his dedication to Curlin’s achievements, Jackson was awarded the 2008 Sportsman of the Year Insider Award. His overall investments in thoroughbred racing surpassed $200 million.
Death
After a prolonged fight with melanoma, Jess Jackson passed away on April 21, 2011. He was laid to rest in a newly created 12,000-square-foot cemetery situated atop a hill in Alexander Valley.