Santa Rosa’s Jackson Family Wines to acquire Healdsburg’s Copain Wines
Jackson Family Wines said it has reached a deal to acquire Copain Wines, whose Healdsburg winery and tasting room specialize in vineyard-designated wines from Mendocino County’s Anderson Valley.
The acquisition would be the latest winery or brand addition for Santa Rosa-based Jackson, which purchased Penner-Ash in Oregon last month.
Copain Wines (copainwines.com) would continue to operate as it does now under the agreement, the companies said. Founder Wells Guthrie will remain winemaker, with control over winemaking decisions and grape sourcing.
The tasting room at 7800 Eastside Rd. will remain open by appointment. Jackson Family Wines (jacksonfamilywines.com) will upgrade sales, marketing, distribution and back-office administrative support. Copain Wines will be sold and distributed through Jackson Family Wines’ West Burgundy Wine Collective.
Other terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The sale is expected to close later this month.
Guthrie called the deal the “logical next step as we look toward the future.”
“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,” he said in a statement.
Guthrie started the winery in 1999, aiming to combine French wine styles with sustainably farmed California fruit. The focus has been chardonnay, pinot noir and syrah that are well balanced and food friendly.
Jackson is acquiring Copain Wines to expand its portfolio with stylistically unique, balanced, expressive and lower-alcohol wines, the company said.
“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, chairman and proprietor of Jackson Family Wines.
“The addition of Copain Wines and their impeccably balanced, classically styled wines is an exciting complement to our portfolio. We see significant opportunities for growth and look forward to collaborating with Wells and his team to continue the great work they do.”
Started in 1982, Jackson Family Wines has more than 40 brands from California, Oregon, Australia, Chile, France, Italy and South Africa.
Demeter Group, a San Francisco-based investment bank for beverage alcohol companies, acted as Copain Wines’ exclusive financial advisor on the transaction. Murano Group, a San Francisco-based holding company that invests primarily in branded consumer businesses, was the strategic investor in Copain’s growth over the last six years.
