US: Jackson Family Wines acquires Oregon vineyards - report

By James Wilmore | 18 March 2013

Jackon Family Wines is a holding company that owns around 35 wineries, including Kendall-Jackson

Jackson Family Wines has purchased around 400 acres of vineyards in Oregon, its first acquisitions outside of California, according to local reports.

The Santa Rosa-based company has paid an undisclosed amount for 392 acres in Oregon's Willamette Valley, The Oregonian reported late on Friday (15 March). The purchase involves three properties.

Two of the parcels in the Eola-Amity Hills growing area - Zena East and Zena Middle – consist of 42 acres of pinot noir grapes. The third parcel – Maple Grove – totalling around 350 acres is unplanted.

“I admire pinot noirs from the Willamette Valley and its sub-appellations like Eola-Amity Hills,” Barbara Banke, chairman of Jackson Family Wines, was reported as saying in a statement. “When we saw Zena East, Zena Middle and Maple Grove, we were enthused by the prospect of making world-class pinot noir from these distinctive properties.”

Earlier this year, Jackson Family Wines, whose founder Jess Jackson died in 2011, purchased 877 acres in the American Viticultural Area (AVA) of Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak in northern California.