Jackson Family Wines has spelt out its intention to head to the UK, looking to acquire vineyard land in the southeast of England.
The California-based company, which already has vineyards in six countries outside the US, is poised to add a seventh, having identified the Crouch Valley area of the country of Essex, about 45m east of London, as a suitable location for growing wine grapes. While an acquisition has not been completed yet, Jackson Family Wines outlined its plans in the country this week.
A transaction “should be completed later in the Summer”, a company spokesperson told Global Drinks Intel.
To prepare for the move, the family-owned company, founded by Jess Jackson 41 years ago, has recruited Charlie Holland, currently the chief winemaker & CEO at Gusbourne Estate in England. Holland, who starts with the venture in September, will be tasked with growing and producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, “with a full range of vintage and non-vintage sparkling wines and vintage still wines”.
“I’ve been impressed with the quality of sparkling wines from the UK for years, which influenced our decision to develop premium sparkling and still wines here in England,” says JFW proprietor & chair Barbara Banke. “With … our love of the UK, this move is a natural progression for our company – expanding our ventures in wine regions globally.”
Climactic changes have prompted other wine companies to set up operations in England. In 2015, Champagne house Taittinger bought around 70 hectares of land in the county of Kent through a joint-venture with its UK agency and importer, Hatch Mansfield.
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