Jackson forms new luxury division

Jackson Family Wines has set up the West Burgundy Wine Group, a new division for its top end Pinot Noir and Chardonnay-focused estates.

Champ de Rêves, one of the estates featured in JFW’s new division

The portfolio currently comprises four US estates owned by Jackson Family Wines: Champ de Rêves, a Pinot Noir property in the Anderson Valley; Wild Ridge, a property producing Pinot Noir on the Sonoma Coast; Chardenet, which focuses on single vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay; and Gran Moraine, a recently added Pinot Noir venture from Oregon’s Yamhill-Carlton AVA.

In addition, West Burgundy Wine Group will act as exclusive importer for Nuits St Georges-based négociant Moillard-Grivot, which represents a number of wines from across the Côte D’Or.

Based at the company’s Carneros Hills Winery, which it bought from Buena Vista in 2012, West Burgundy Wine Group will be headed by director and vice-president of strategic projects Fred Reno. With over 30 years’ experience in the US wine industry, he joined Jackson Family Wines in 2010 to take charge of its fine wine portfolio.

Describing this development as “a natural progression” for the company, Reno commented: “I’m thrilled to lead this exploration of the family’s incredible estate vineyards with wines that reflect the passion that fuelled the founding of this company and its enduring dedication to superlative quality.”