The Powerhouse Women Behind The Vineyard Names
If you've been following Jackson Family Wines over the years, then you know women run the show. Jess Stonestreet Jackson Jr. started the business with his first wife, but went on to become a wine baron with the help of Barbara Banke, his widow and current Chairman & Proprietor of JFW. Barbara is one of the top executives in the wine industry, and she keeps a lot of talented women around her. Banke and Jackson shaped nearly two dozen premium wineries across Sonoma, Napa, Monterey, Santa Barbara and Mendocino counties—many of which are run by family members, who happen to be some of the most badass women in wine.
Courtesy of Jackson Family Wines
Saralee’s Vineyard, Russian River Valley: In 1989 Saralee Kunde planted what is now the La Crema Estate Vineyard in partnership with her husband Richard. The duo were revered in Sonoma County for their agricultural advocacy and contributions to local organizations. Saralee went on to help found the Russian River Valley Winegrowers Association and Sonoma’s Annual Harvest Fair. In 2000, a cover story in the San Francisco Chronicle called Saralee Sonoma’s counterpart to Robert Mondavi, whose tireless championing of Napa Valley had put a face to that region’s wines. Try the wine: 2021 La Crema Saralee’s Vineyard Chardonnay.
Katherine’s Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley: Named after Cambria Estate Winery Proprietor Katie Jackson in 1986, this vineyard is planted with vines that have endured since the 1970s. Katie is a leader in the climate change space heading up sustainability and government relations for Jackson Family wines. Her work inspires and is inspired by Cambria’s own commitment to sustainability including things like water and energy conservation, the enhancement of biodiversity, waste management, and pest control. The winery continues to be run and operated by an all-star female team. Try the wine: 2021 Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay
Jennifer’s Vineyard, Russian River Valley: Jennifer’s Vineyard is named after Hartford co-proprietor Jennifer Hartford. Located in the Sebastopol Hills sub-region of the Russian River Valley AVA, the vineyard is known for its cool climate, goldridge soils and windy conditions on the edge of the Petaluma Wind Gap. Jennifer founded Hartford with her husband Don in 1994 and this year the winery is celebrating its 30th anniversary as an iconic winery in the Russian River Valley. Try the wine: 2021 Hartford Court Jennifer's Vineyard Chardonnay
Courtesy of Jackson Family Wines
MK: What does it mean to you having such strong female figures in your family who are also total baddies in the wine world?
HHM: I feel so blessed to have so many amazing women role models in my family beginning of course with my mom, but also extending to my aunts, grandparents and even cousins. Especially remarkable to me is how each have very distinct leadership styles, ways of communicating and working with their teams, yet all lead with compassion, strength and integrity and have been wildly successful in their ventures. Their success has impressed on me the incredible importance of honoring a diversity of voices. Being surrounded by women who are so unafraid to follow their passions as a young girl also gave me an innate confidence in my own abilities. As an adult it is something that I don’t take for granted and I hope that I too can be a role model and support to others in a similar way.
MK: How do you feel when you walk through Jennifer's Vineyard—the vineyard named for your mother?
HHM: Cold! Jennifer’s Vineyard, named after my mom, is situated in the southernmost portion of Russian River Valley in an area we call Sebastopol Hills. This little area is also right next to the Petaluma Wind Gap AVA so its climate is influenced not only by the cold fog that trickles in along the Russian River and down the Valley from the north, but also wind from the south that whips through from the gap in the coastal mountain ranges near the town of Petaluma. It is very difficult for the grapes to get ripe in such a cold environment and the wind encourages the grapes to develop thicker skins to survive all that buffeting. Jennifer’s Vineyard is definitely a high risk, high reward site for us at Hartford – meaning there are some vintages that we may not even be able to make the wine, but in the years we can, you are rewarded with a stunningly unique Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Joking aside, I am immensely proud of my family’s commitment to quality and their foresight to invest in vineyards that may require more work but yield beautiful wines as a result. I think it’s entirely appropriate that the vineyard is named after my mom who has modeled that dedication to hard work and quality throughout her entire career. It’s also no accident that my dad decided to name one of our sexiest Pinot Noirs after my mother – as my mom often tells him, “he can be very charming when he wants to be”.
MK: Are you seeing a rise in female winemakers getting chances to become the decision makers at neighboring wineries?
HHM: Yes, its been very exciting to see more women take leadership roles in the Russian River Valley – both as winemakers as well as managers role. Neighbors in the Russian River Valley who have promoted women winemakers and managers in recent years include Eva & Carmen Dehlinger at Dehlinger Winery, Cristina Torres at Marimar Estate, Theresa Heredia at Gary Farrell, Melissa Stackhouse at Dutton-Goldfield, Courtney Robinett Wagoner at Martinelli Winery.
MK: Which brand within JFW are you most excited about outside of Hartford Family Winery?
HHM: I am especially excited about La Crema! La Crema wines are of course always delicious, but more than that it is a really fantastic winery to visit. They’re starting to offer more robust and exciting food and wine pairings – like oysters with sparkling wine, caviar with pinot and during Pride Month they had a special rainbow chocolate wine pairing! And you can book an UTV farm tour to see our regenerative & sustainable winegrowing practices in action.
MK: Are there any up-and-coming female winemakers that people should be keeping an eye on for the future?
HHM: I know too many incredible female winemakers to name, and most have been practicing their craft for many years whether the world has been watching them or not. Marcia Torres Forno makes absolutely stunning Sauvingon Blancs for Matanzas Creek winery – they are a testament to the way in which she constantly strives to improve how she works with fruit both as its growing on the vine and in the winery. Sarah Wuethrich of Maggy Hawk winery and Hélène Seillan of Vérité are also both extraordinary winemakers and powerhouse women.
