Jackson Family Wines makes its debut in the Loire Valley

he wine’s name itself – Passerelles – is filled with significance, symbolising not only the many bridges straddling the river Loire, but also the encounter between California and France. “We have long admired the purity and elegance of wines from the Loire Valley”, admits Barbara Banke, Jackson Family Wines’ proprietor, in a press statement. “Over the past five years, we’ve seen a global explosion in consumer interest in all their star varieties – Sauvignon blanc, Chenin blanc and Cabernet Franc primary among them”.

Claiming that “It’s a natural evolution for us to bring the exceptional quality of wines coming from this historic, beautiful river valley into our portfolio of world class wines”, the company intends to “celebrate the Loire’s rich diversity, showcasing wines that reflect the region’s unique terroir and over-deliver on quality”. The range features four wines under the Sancerre, Saumur Rouge, Touraine Oisly and Anjou Blanc appellations, whose lighter-bodied, crisp styles and naturally lower alcohol content are lauded by the Californian winery. Its Loire partner wineries are either certified sustainable, organic or currently in conversion and the wines’ price points reflect a premium positioning in the American market, ranging from $25 for the Anjou Blanc to $40 for the Sancerre. The selection becomes part of the global portfolio marketed by JFW which spans the two hemispheres and includes wines from the USA and South Africa to France, Italy, Australia and Chile.