Jackson Family Wines buys Healdsburg’s Copain Wines

Jackson Family Wines announced Monday it has purchased Healdsburg-based Copain Wines, continuing its acquisition mode of buying smaller boutique wineries rather than more splashy purchases.

Wells Guthrie, who began making wine in a Santa Rosa warehouse in 1999, will continue in his role as winemaker for the winery with control over winemaking decisions and grape sourcing. The winery is known for its chardonnay, pinot noir and syrah wines that start at around $23 a bottle and go up to $75.

“Joining the Jackson Family Wines portfolio is an exciting and logical next step as we look toward the future,” Guthrie said in a statement. Guthrie had worked as tasting coordinator for the Wine Spectator in San Francisco in the mid-1990s before he entered winemaking.

“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,” his statement said.

Guthrie started out by making big, plush wines higher in alcohol content, but later developed into producing lighter-bodied reds that can pair well with food. He was one of the first winemakers to the discover the potential of Mendocino County’s Anderson Valley grapes before it became one of the hottest pinot noir regions.

Copain Wines will be sold and distributed through the company’s West Burgundy Wine Collective. The purchase mirrors others that Jackson, Sonoma County’s largest vintner, has made in recent years. It includes buying the Penner-Ash Wine Cellars in Oregon’s Willamette Valley last month and local pinot noir specialist Siduri Wines last year. In those cases, the winemaker stayed on board and the brands were able to grow by using Jackson’s marketing and distribution clout as well as its administrative support.

The sales price was not disclosed.

“The addition of Copain Wines and their impeccably balanced, classically styled wines is an exciting complement to our portfolio,” said Barbara Banke, chairman and proprietor of Jackson Family Wines, in a statement. “We see significant opportunities for growth and look forward to collaborating with Wells and his team to continue the great work they do.”

You can reach Staff Writer Bill Swindell at 521-5223 or bill.swindell@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @BillSwindell.