SONOMA COUNTY, Calif., December 8, 2021 – Foley Family Wines today announced the acquisition of Chateau St. Jean winery from Treasury Wine Estates. Chateau St. Jean is located in Kenwood, California, which lies along Highway 12 within the picturesque Valley of the Moon. Founded in 1973, the winery is widely known as a pioneer in the production of single-vineyard Chardonnay wines from Sonoma County, as well as for its flagship Bordeaux blend, Cinq Cépages—the first Sonoma wine ever to win “Wine of the Year” from Wine Spectator.
The acquisition by Foley Family Wines includes the historic 1920s chateau, the 6,000 square-foot visitors center, a 39,000 square-foot wine production facility, 79 planted acres of estate vineyards, on-site tasting salons, and extensive gardens. The winery’s legacy use permit will also be transferred to the new owners, allowing for 24 special events annually and an additional six large-scale events annually, including weddings. Foley Family Wines plans to restore the winery to its former glory, offering the best of Sonoma County wines.
“This is a rare opportunity to invest in a piece of Sonoma Valley history,” said Foley Family Wines Founder and CEO Bill Foley. “We’re looking forward to adding Chateau St. Jean’s remarkable line-up of single-vineyard wines and its award-winning blend Cinq Cépages to our luxury portfolio.”
“Chateau St. Jean is a special place,” said Foley Family Wines President Shawn Schiffer. “The legacy use permit will allow us to maximize the beauty of the iconic chateau and its high-end wines through our direct-to-consumer programs and visitor experiences. We are eager to refocus on the production of vineyard-designate wines from Sonoma County, and to invest in the estate vineyards that support Cinq Cépages.”
Chateau St. Jean produces three tiers of wines, including a widely distributed California Tier, a Reserve Tier of single-vineyard and sub-appellation wines from Sonoma County, and the flagship Cinq Cépages.
“Currently the Chateau St. Jean wines are made offsite,” said Schiffer. “We’re looking closely at how best to optimize the production facilities at Chateau St. Jean and eventually bring that winemaking back home.”
Zepponi & Company, based in Santa Rosa, served as the exclusive financial advisor to Treasury Wine Estates Americas Company.
About Foley Family Wines
Established by Bill Foley in 1996, Foley Family Wines is a portfolio of highly acclaimed wines from some of the world’s greatest vineyards. The company owns more than two dozen wineries across the globe, each with its own distinct wine style, legacy, and approach to hospitality. In addition, the Foley Food & Wine Society offers members a luxury lifestyle community that celebrates culinary experiences, entertainment, and travel in the United States, New Zealand, France, and Argentina. Foley Family Wines, 200 Concourse Blvd., Santa Rosa, CA, 95403, 707-708-7600.
