JESS PURCHASES LAND IN LAKE COUNTY
JESS PURCHASES LAND IN LAKE COUNTY
Jess Jackson purchases an 80-acre pear and walnut orchard and replants it with Chardonnay grapevines in Lake County, just north of Napa Valley.
1974
Evolution Of
Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay
KENDALL-JACKSON IS BORN
KENDALL-JACKSON IS BORN
Jess and family set out to make a premium, yet affordable, California wine.
1982
EVOLUTION OF
VINTNER'S RESERVE CHARDONNAY
JESS SELLS FIRST CASE OF KENDALL-JACKSON IN NEW YORK CITY
JESS SELLS FIRST CASE OF KENDALL-JACKSON IN NEW YORK CITY
Jess sold the first case ever of Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay at the Oyster Bar at Grand Central Station. That same year, the inaugural vintage of Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay won the first-ever Platinum Award for an American Chardonnay at The American Wine Competition. Kendall-Jackson was officially on the map.
1983
K-J GOES TO WASHINGTON
K-J GOES TO WASHINGTON
The Reagan's insisted on serving California wines at the White House and Nancy loved the taste of Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay. San Francisco Chronicle's Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and city icon, Herb Caen, caught wind of the story and wrote a column about the wine referring to the Chardonnay as "Nancy’s wine."
1983
EVOLUTION OF
VINTNER'S RESERVE CHARDONNAY
THE GRAND RESERVE COLLECTION IS INTRODUCED
THE GRAND RESERVE COLLECTION IS INTRODUCED
Stemming from the success of Vintner's Reserve, Jess debuts a new collection of wines under the Kendall-Jackson label. The Grand Reserve collection is a winemaker’s blend of mountain, ridge, hillside and benchland grapes, grown along California’s cool coastal appellations.
1986
EVOLUTION OF
VINTNER'S RESERVE CHARDONNAY
JESS PURCHASES STAVE MILL IN NORTHEASTERN FRANCE
JESS PURCHASES STAVE MILL IN NORTHEASTERN FRANCE
Kendall-Jackson is the only American Winery to share ownership in a French stave mill. Our commitment to aging & fermenting in French oak barrels has helped us deliver America’s favorite Chardonnay since 1982.
1991
EVOLUTION OF
VINTNER’S RESERVE CHARDONNAY
#1 CHARDONNAY IN AMERICA
#1 CHARDONNAY IN AMERICA
Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay becomes #1 selling Chardonnay in America, and remains so to this day.
1992
EVOLUTION OF
VINTNER'S RESERVE CHARDONNAY
JESS PURCHASES THE 5,000 ACRE GAUER RANCH ALONG THE MAYACAMAS MOUNTAINS IN ALEXANDER VALLEY
JESS PURCHASES THE 5,000 ACRE GAUER RANCH ALONG THE MAYACAMAS MOUNTAINS IN ALEXANDER VALLEY
He renames it Alexander Mountain Estate (AME) and insists that all the coveted grapes on this mountain are grown with extra care. The average grape is touched 12 times during the growing season, but AME grapes get, on average, nearly twice the attention. Our Grand Reserve, Jackson Estate and Stature collections all source Cabernet Sauvignon from some of AME's prized mountain top vineyard blocks.
1995
EVOLUTION OF
VINTNER'S RESERVE CHARDONNAY
KENDALL-JACKSON WINE ESTATE AND GARDENS OPENS ITS DOORS IN THE HEART OF SONOMA COUNTY
KENDALL-JACKSON WINE ESTATE AND GARDENS OPENS ITS DOORS IN THE HEART OF SONOMA COUNTY
The Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate and Gardens was built by Ken De Baun in 1990. He originally built this facility to be used as the tasting room and as a special events site for his winery, Chateau de Baun. Kendall-Jackson purchased the building in 1996 to be an educational destination for all things food and wine.
1996
KENDALL-JACKSON HOSTS THE FIRST ANNUAL HEIRLOOM TOMATO FESTIVAL
KENDALL-JACKSON HOSTS THE FIRST ANNUAL HEIRLOOM TOMATO FESTIVAL
The Heirloom Tomato Festival was founded on the vision of Jess Jackson. It was created to showcase the bounty of the annual harvest, the marriage of wine and food as perfected by the vintners and chefs who create fabulous foods in K-J’s kitchen and the heritage heirloom tomatoes grown in our garden — more than 150 different varieties.
1996
EVOLUTION OF
VINTNER'S RESERVE CHARDONNAY
RANDY ULLOM OFFICIALLY BECOMES WINEMASTER FOR KENDALL-JACKSON
RANDY ULLOM OFFICIALLY BECOMES WINEMASTER FOR KENDALL-JACKSON
In March of 1997, Randy Ullom was named Winemaster for Kendall-Jackson Winery, a distinction he still holds today. Ullom’s unusual title “Winemaster” reflects his intimate involvement in the intricacies of the viticultural and winemaking programs of Kendall-Jackson.
1997
FIRST VINTAGE OF STATURE LAUNCHES
FIRST VINTAGE OF STATURE LAUNCHES
Stature represents the pinnacle of Kendall-Jackson winemaking excellence. Created from only our finest estate vineyards and handcrafted without compromise, it offers the ultimate expression of wine artistry in Chardonnay and Bordeaux blend.
1997
EVOLUTION OF
VINTNER'S RESERVE CHARDONNAY
JESS JACKSON IS AWARDED LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT BY WINE ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE
JESS JACKSON IS AWARDED LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT BY WINE ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE
Each year, the editors of Wine Enthusiast honor the individuals and companies that have made outstanding achievements in the wine and beverage world including the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. Among his major achievements, Jess Jackson was one of the first and largest winemakers to introduce America to varietal-specific wine, not only increasing the public’s understanding and appreciation of wine, but also making it affordable.
2007
EVOLUTION OF
VINTNER'S RESERVE CHARDONNAY
JESS JACKSON PASSES AWAY ON APRIL 21ST
JESS JACKSON PASSES AWAY ON APRIL 21ST
Jess Jackson was that rare individual whose vision, perseverance and work ethic transformed an entire industry. A truly self-made man, his legacy will endure, inspiring all those who believe that being successful in business does not mean that one must compromise those basic values: family, hard work, integrity and stewardship of the land.
2011
KENDALL-JACKSON WINS ITS 10TH WINE & SPIRITS "WINERY OF THE YEAR" AWARD
KENDALL-JACKSON WINS ITS 10TH WINE & SPIRITS "WINERY OF THE YEAR" AWARD
Wine & Spirits Magazine selects Kendall-Jackson as one of its Top 100 Wineries of Year, marking the tenth time K-J wins the award.
2011
JESS AND RANDY DEVELOP A NEW, FRUIT FORWARD STYLE OF CHARDONNAY
JESS AND RANDY DEVELOP A NEW, FRUIT FORWARD STYLE OF CHARDONNAY
They called it "K-J AVANT," French for "before," signifying the wine before the wood of the barrel imparts its flavor. K-J AVANT is fermented in a combination of stainless steel tanks and neutral oak barrels, delivering a vivid, crisp and bright style.
2011
EVOLUTION OF
VINTNER'S RESERVE CHARDONNAY
RICK TIGNER, CEO, STARS IN AN EPISODE OF “UNDERCOVER BOSS”
RICK TIGNER, CEO, STARS IN AN EPISODE OF “UNDERCOVER BOSS”
Among the positive results stemming from our participation in "Undercover Boss," we implemented a broad language training program to teach Spanish and English across our employee base.
2012
EVOLUTION OF
VINTNER'S RESERVE CHARDONNAY
THE JESS S. JACKSON SUSTAINABLE WINERY BUILDING OPENS AT UC DAVIS
THE JESS S. JACKSON SUSTAINABLE WINERY BUILDING OPENS AT UC DAVIS
With the Jackson's commitment to the advancement of sustainable winemaking and sustainable agriculture, the University's Department of Viticulture and Enology opened the 8,500 square-foot Jess S. Jackson Sustainable Winery Building. Fully equipped, it will enable the winery to become the first self-sustainable, zero-carbon teaching and research facility in the world.
2013
K-J IS NAMED “GREEN COMPANY OF THE YEAR” BY THE DRINKS BUSINESS, EUROPE’S LEADING DRINKS TRADE PUBLICATION
K-J IS NAMED “GREEN COMPANY OF THE YEAR” BY THE DRINKS BUSINESS, EUROPE’S LEADING DRINKS TRADE PUBLICATION
The Drinks Business announces Kendall-Jackson as the The Green Company of the Year. The award was given based on our implementation of environmentally sensitive practices in all aspects of our operations and for our overall impact on energy savings, waste reduction and conservation.
2013
BARBARA BANKE IS THE FIRST FEMALE TO RECEIVE THE WINE ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE’S WINE PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR AWARD
BARBARA BANKE IS THE FIRST FEMALE TO RECEIVE THE WINE ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE’S WINE PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR AWARD
Wine Enthusiast names Barbara Banke its 2013 Wine Person of the Year. The first woman to win the award, Barbara now shares it with Jess, the magazine’s inaugural recipient in 2000.
2013
EVOLUTION OF
VINTNER'S RESERVE CHARDONNAY
JACKSON ESTATE COLLECTION IS LAUNCHED
JACKSON ESTATE COLLECTION IS LAUNCHED
Jackson Estate is a terroir focused, limited bottling collection that demonstrate the depth and complexity possible from coastal California appellations influenced by the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean.
2014
JACKSON FAMILY WINES COLLABORATES WITH TESLA ENERGY TO PILOT STATIONARY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
JACKSON FAMILY WINES COLLABORATES WITH TESLA ENERGY TO PILOT STATIONARY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
Using Tesla's battery storage system allows us to reduce impact on our local electric grid as well as store solar energy to utilize throughout production — “turning” the sun on" at night.
2015
JACKSON FAMILY WINES AWARDED THE CALIFORNIA GREEN MEDAL LEADER AWARD FOR SUSTAINABLE WINEGROWING LEADERSHIP
JACKSON FAMILY WINES AWARDED THE CALIFORNIA GREEN MEDAL LEADER AWARD FOR SUSTAINABLE WINEGROWING LEADERSHIP
The prestigious Green Medal Award was developed to recognize California vineyards and wineries excelling in sustainability in four categories. The Leader award is given to the vineyard or winery that best demonstrates excellence in balancing the three E’s of sustainability: environmentally sound, socially equitable, and economically viable. The three other categories include the Environment Award, Community Award, and Business Award. The Leader category is the exemplary achievement in all of the three categories.
2016
Kendall-Jackson Named American Winery of the Year
Kendall-Jackson Named American Winery of the Year
Each year, Wine Enthusiast honors the individuals and companies that made outstanding achievements over the past year in the wine and beverage world.
2017