Jackson Estate to build Pinot Noir-specific winery

By Carol Emmas, Emily Kearns

Published: 07 October, 2013

Marlborough producer Jackson Estate is to build a new Pinot Noir-specific winery on the back of double-digit sales growth.

Talking in Manchester last week at the introduction of its new Jackson Estate Somerset Pinot Noir 2011, Jackson Estate winemaker of nine years Matt Patterson-Green told Harpers the project is currently in design mode. He said for the past two years demand for Pinot Noir from its 100ha has been outstripping supply and it "can't make enough".

"Since 2005 the jewel in the crown has been Pinot Noir, but we wanted to make sure the market was there first and it is. We are now looking to build a specific winery in the next two years in order to satisfy demand and produce further small batch Pinot Noirs."

Rather than experiment with planting other varieties, Jackson Estate has stuck to Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir as its main staples, plus Chardonnay and Riesling. Its fifth-generation owner John Stichbury said it bases its business ethics on never discounting and building firm relationships with its suppliers.

"The UK has been very good to us and it is very loyal to our brand. We have made a lot of compromises over the past few years of recession on how we have spent our money, but we have never compromised on quality."

In addition to its Somerset Pinot Noir, it produces Jackson Estate Vintage Widow Pinot Noir (available from Ocado, Tesco.com, TheDrinkShop.com, Majestic, York Wines, ExcelWines.co.uk) and Gum Emperor Pinot Noir (available from Ocado and TheDrinkShop.com).

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