True to the terroir

Jackson Family Wines Chairman & Proprietor Barbara R. Banke and her late husband, wine icon Jess S. Jackson, believe in the importance of good land stewardship.

“Our long-term vision is to remain true to the best terroir,” says Banke, “Our family company has always been committed to continuing this tradition.”

Both former lawyers from humble beginnings, Banke and Jackson built the extremely successful Jackson Family Wines portfolio through a deep passion for taking care of the best vineyards, Recognizing UC Davis as the most fertile soil for growing future winemakers and industry leaders, the couple’s support was instrumental in creating UC Davis’ Teaching and Research Winery, the world’s first LEED Platinum-certified winery and the highest scoring LEED Platinum building at any university. The Jess S. Jackson Sustainable Winery Building houses the advanced systems that enable the Winery to run on rainwater and solar power, and earned the 2014 AIA San Francisco Merit Award in Energy and Sustainability, as well as other industry awards recognizing its innovative design.

“My family and I are proud to support UC Davis on building this landmark facility,” says Banke. “The university is one of the most important academic assets for our nation's winemaking community. We are honored for this opportunity to partner with UC Davis to develop and share best practices in energy conservation, water management and other world-class sustainability standards which will inspire future wine industry leaders for generations to come.”