Does being a "family-owned winery" affect the winemaking at Kendall-Jackson? Absolutely. Most importantly, it affords us the luxury to take the long-term view. We aren't afraid to take risks, so we grow our grapes in mountain and hillside vineyards - even though it is difficult for both the farmer and the vine. Why? Because grapes grown on mountains have more character and more flavor.

At the winery, we use boutique winemaking methods throughout harvest, press and fermentation to craft our wines by hand. Each vineyard lot is kept separate, so we can really capture the essence of each vineyard site. We've even invested in our own stave mill in France to ensure we always have access to the highest quality French oak barrels for aging.