Sonoma County Vintner Jess Jackson Dies at 81

[Auggie]

Source: Wine Spectator

Jess Jackson, who built a wine empire around Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay, becoming a self-made billionaire and one of the most influential and controversial producers in the United States, died in Sonoma County early this morning. He was 81 years of age. The intensely private Jackson reportedly had been undergoing treatment for melanoma for several years.

During nearly three decades, Jackson launched or acquired more than 30 wine brands in California, Italy, South America, Australia and France. Combined, they currently produce more than 5 million cases annually. In addition to Kendall-Jackson, the labels include La Crema, Stonestreet, Cardinale, Arrowood and Matanzas Creek in California, Villa Arceno in Italy, Yangarra in Australia and Château Lassègue in Bordeaux.

Jackson was a maverick by nature, often mercurial and unabashedly competitive. A savvy businessman, he preferred to meet challenges head-on. “I think he enjoyed a good scrap,” said winemaker Richard Arrowood, a friend of many years who later worked for Jackson for four years. “He was a pistol, no two ways about it. But no one could ever call him stupid.”

SNIP

Forbes magazine first named Jackson to its list of the wealthiest people in the world in 2000, estimating his wealth to be in the billions, and with wife Banke he enjoyed an affluent lifestyle, often touring his vineyards by helicopter and traveling around the world in a private jet.

Read more: http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/44884

[Sonoman]

1. Good riddance, you arrogant old bastard.

His name, alone, is fightin' words in our Valley.

I cannot believe that Dick Arrowood said anything nice about the old fucker.

His wines suck as much as he did. Nobody in Sonoma drinks them and the restaurants keep them on the menu for the tourists.

Sonoman