Jackson Family’s Skysill Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley

Jett is one of the most exciting debuts in Washington in the last 15 years

There was a ripple of excitement throughout the Washington wine industry when Jackson Family announced in 2022 that the company was expanding into the state, purchasing a vineyard in Walla Walla Valley. Now, with the company’s initial Washington wines out in the wild and more on the way, that initial response was surely well-deserved.

Jett, Jackson Family’s new Washington winery, is one of the most exciting debuts in the state in the last 15 years. It marks a new chapter for Washington and for Jackson Family.

Starting from the ground up

From the beginning, Jackson Family’s approach in Washington stood out as different. Rather than acquiring an established winery, Jackson Family – one of the largest wine companies in the U.S. – started from the ground up.

“As a company, we have a history of purchasing great brands, land, and facilities, but this has really been establishing something from the get go,” says Jett winemaker Gianna Ghilarducci. “It’s an exciting challenge to take on.”

Ghilarducci grew up in Sonoma, California. Living above her family’s restaurant, she was introduced to wine at a young age. With a degree in chemistry, Ghilarducci joined Jackson Family in 2018. She says that Christopher Jackson, the son of Barbara Banke and Jess Jackson, was the driving force behind the company exploring Washington.

“He said ‘Let’s do something. Let’s start exploring Washington,’” Ghilarducci recalls.

Part of the goal with moving into Washington was to diversify Jackson Family’s portfolio. The company had already expanded its Pinot Noir offerings into Willamette Valley starting in 2012. Shortly thereafter, Jackson Family purchased vineyards and wineries in the state. Washington provides a natural extension for its Bordeaux wines.

“Blown away” by Walla Walla Valley

Gianna Ghilarducci, Jett

Jackson Family senior winemaker Chris Carpenter and Ghilarducci went on a series of vineyard visits in Washington in 2021. While raving about hospitality they were shown throughout the state, Ghilarducci was particularly impressed with Walla Walla Valley.

“I was blown away with how dedicated and passionate people are about their work, whether it be growing grapes, making wine, or making food downtown – all parts of the industry,” she says. “I love the creativity and experimentation there.”

On their visit, they “fell in love” with a piece of land in the Upper Mill Creek area of Walla Walla Valley. This area – perhaps the most majestic region in a valley full of royal views – is in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. It is where FIGGINS, Echolands, Walla Walla Vintners, Bledsoe-McDaniels, and others are located.

“The cooler and wetter qualities of [the vineyard] were very attractive to me,” Ghilarducci says. “In the back of all of our minds is climate change, so there’s a bit of a hedge element there too.”

The vineyard’s higher elevation also offered appeal. It is located between 1,200 and 1,600 feet above sea level, with initial plantings in 2016.

Skysill Vineyard the focus

Ghilarducci made the first Jett wines in 2021, sourcing approximately 20 tons of fruit from various locations in the Columbia Valley. Jackson Family also sourced fruit from the vineyard that they would purchase in 2022 and subsequently name Skysill.

“It was very clear right away when you tasted through the wines, this is different. This stands apart,” Ghilarducci says of Skysill.

In 2022, Jett crushed 50 tons of fruit and transitioned its vineyard, which currently has 40 acres bearing fruit, to organic farming. (An additional 2 acres of Syrah and 1/4 acre of Viognier were planted in 2024.) Jackson Family will likely establish a tasting room on the property at some point. For now, the focus is on the vines and wines.

To date, Ghilarducci has made all the Jett wines at custom crush facilities. However, the winery took over the facility on Melrose Street where FIGGINS previously made its wines. (FIGGINS moved into its new winery in 2023.) Starting with the 2025 vintage, the Jett wines will be made there.

Already four vintages in, Ghilarducci has been impressed with Washington’s fruit. “I love the savory side that Washington wines have,” she says. “Those elements are a little more Bordeaux-esque in a way I think is really enjoyable.”

Wines with “energy”

In 2022, Jett sourced fruit from Quintessence and Shaw vineyards on Red Mountain; Phinny Hill and Andrews vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills; and Loess, Seven Hills, Les Collines, and Skysill vineyards in Walla Walla Valley. Stylistically, Ghilarducci says her goals are simple.

“I always want to find energy in my wines and liveliness,” she says. Ghilarducci is also judicious about the use of new oak.

“We tasted a lot of Washington wines, and I got the impression that it would be easy to over-oak them. I wanted to be really careful about that.”

As with any new winery, starting out is a slow roll. The 2021 Jett wines – which included a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah – were limited production and largely released direct-to-consumer. The Jett 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, reviewed with other 2022 vintage wines below, will be released in the fall. Other 2022 wines will be released in 2026 after they have additional time in bottle. A Chardonnay is on the way as well.

The wines will be worth the wait. The 2022 Jett wines are all extremely high quality, exquisitely crafted, and soulful. They have energy, vitality, and impeccable fruit sourcing and winemaking. It’s as breathtaking a debut as I’ve seen in Washington in terms of quality and scope in a very long time.

A cannon ball-sized splash

In addition to their exceptional quality, the initial Jett wines from Jackson Family are also notable for their pricing. The winery’s Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, by far the largest production at just over 1,500 cases, is the least expensive at $80. Its Skysill Vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are the most expensive at $150.

This should surprise no one. Jackson Family has not come to Washington to slug it out making entry-level wines. They have put their stake in the ground on the state’s top tier offerings. Washington is able to produce luxury-priced wines that punch well above their weight class. The 2022 Jett wines surely do.

The timing of the launch of Jett is also notable. While the wine industry’s challenges often steal the headlines, every challenge also provides opportunity. With Jett, Jackson Family is seizing the moment by investing in Washington.

Given Jackson Family’s outsized reputation, the company was always going to make a splash with its Washington wines. However, the 2022 Jett offerings are a cannonball into the pool, guaranteed to make waves for the winery and for Washington.

“It’s a fun challenge to go to a totally new place,” Ghilarducci says. “I didn’t have a history with those particular sites, and it was really nerve wracking. But I must say, I’m super proud of the wines and pleased with how they have evolved.” Indeed.

All images courtesy Jackson Family. 

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