Jackson Family Wines has become the first US business to buy into the English wine industry as it appoints the former Gusbourne winemaker and acquires land in Essex.
Barbara Banke, who owns the Californian-headquartered Jackson Family Wines, has expressed a serious interest in England for the group’s next vineyard investment, both due to the quality of the sparkling wines, and the group’s focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but also because Banke, who is a major Thoroughbred owner and breeder, visits the UK regularly for its racing scene.
That interest was confirmed yesterday as the wine group announced that it will start making “a full range of vintage and non-vintage sparkling wines and vintage still wines” in the UK, following the appointment of former Gusbourne winemaker, Charlie Holland.
Notably, the US business – which also has properties in Bordeaux and Tuscany – is “in the process” of acquiring land to be planted with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Essex’s Crouch Valley.
Sometimes dubbed the ‘Côte d’Or’ of the UK, the Crouch Valley is compared to the famous heartland of Burgundy due to its sloping vineyards, clay-rich soils, and its sunny, relatively dry conditions.
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https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2023/ ... lish-fizz/