Jackson Family Wines has continued its recent spending spree with the acquisition of California cool-climate specialist Copain Wines for an undisclosed sum.
As with its purchase of Oregon’s Penner-Ash winery last month, the company has said it will allow Healdsburg-based Copain to continue to operate as it does currently, under winemaker and founder Wells Guthrie.
Established in 1999, Copain specialises in cool-climate Pinot Noir, Syrah and Chardonnay, sourced from the Anderson Valley and made with ‘French stylistic sensibilities’.
‘My family and I were impressed by Wells’ exceptional wines and his dedication to producing wines that display a distinct expression of their vineyard site,’ said Barbara Banke, Jackson Family Wines chairman and proprietor.
‘We see significant opportunities for growth and look forward to collaborating with Wells and his team to continue the great work they do.’
Guthrie said the decision to sell was ‘an exciting and logical next step’, adding: ‘We believe the Jackson family’s commitment to preserving the integrity of what we’ve built, while providing the resources to elevate our wines, will be a winning combination as we look to promote our style of winemaking on a broader scale.’
Jackson Family Wines said Guthrie and the existing Copain team would retain control over winemaking decisions, including grape sourcing, while it would focus on providing sales, marketing, distribution and back-office support.
Copain Wines will be sold and distributed through Jackson Family Wines’ West Burgundy Wine Collective.
The purchase of Copain follows a series of moves by Jackson Family Wines in Oregon, including the acquisition of Penner-Ash and the purchase of the Zena Crown vineyards in Willamette Valley, as well as the $4.6m buy of a potential winemaking site in the state.
