California-headquartered Jackson Family Wines has acquired Oregon wine brand Big Salt from its founders for an undisclosed sum.
Founders John and Ksenija House will “remain deeply involved in both winemaking and brand stewardship”, while existing growers and vineyard partners “will remain unchanged”. It is unclear whether Big Salt has its own winemaking assets, but a spokesperson said the “first releases under Jackson Family Wines”, Big Salt and PNK Salt, will debut on 1 March “in major US markets”.
A further brace, Old Love and Big Salt Orange Rosé, will follow “in (the) early summer”.
“Jackson Family Wines gives us the ability to grow without compromising our values, our people, or our process,” said John House, who set up Big Salt with Ksenija as part of their Ovum wine company in 2016. “We get to stay us and bring these wines to more tables.”
Big Salt joins the likes of Oregon peer Gran Moraine, Monterey wine brand Carmel Road and Napa’s Cardinale in Jackson Family Wines’ portfolio.
Last month, the Santa Rosa-based group confirmed that CEO Rick Tigner was to retire after having spent 35 years with company – 15 of those at the helm. Tigner will be replaced by Tim Brown, who has been recruited from outside the wine industry, having previously spent almost 30 years at Nestlé.
