Verite Wines

"Can we make a Merlot as good as Petrus in Sonoma County?"

"Why not better."

This was the conversation that sparked it all. Already good friends, a 1997 family trip to northern California brought Jess Jackson and Pierre Seillan closer than they could ever imagine. With Verite Wines, the pair grabbed the attention from Napa Valley to Sonoma County, showing that simple, old-school winemaking never goes out of style. Though Jackson passed away in 2011, Seillan and his daughter carry on Verite's legacy, ensuring the bottles never lose their signature and the estate remains at the peak of California red wines.

Bitter In The Start, Sweeter In The End

Verite's origins began during the Great Depression when Jess Jackson was born into a failing economy and a struggling family. Through years of hard work, determination, and a great imagination, Jackson was accepted into the Berkeley School of Law where he worked multiple jobs to pay for his education and livelihood. Almost kicked out of the university due to breaking the rules of working while in the program, Jackson forced his way into remaining a student, graduating with honors and beginning a lifelong law career. 

Jackson's successful career in real estate and land-use law helped fund his purchase of an 80-acre walnut and pear orchard in Lake County, eventually transforming the land into the Kendall-Jackson vineyard. Eight years later, the winery was formally established, crafting premium, but affordable, Chardonnays. After years of refining the winemaking process and final bottlings, Kendall-Jackson was noticed by the First Lady, Nancy Regan, and became known as "Nancy's wine" in the San Francisco Chronicle. Though Kendall-Jackson wines were a great start for Jess Jackson, he craved something bigger - something that could extend beyond the US market and into international territories.

1998 Verite Wines: A Learning Curve For The New Winery

Already good friends with Pierre Seillan, Jackson hosted Seillan's family for a trip to Northern California in 1997. What was thought to just be a relaxing getaway for both families turned into a meeting of winemaking masterminds. As legend has it, the pair challenged each other to create a Merlot better than Petrus on the Sonoma County terroir. And, with that, Verite Wines was born. 

Seillan moved his entire family from France to Sonoma, ready to make a name for the new winery. With big dreams in store, Seillan struggled in his initial years - first rejected for a green card three times by the US government, Seilland was eventually let in under the premise of working as a 'vigneron.' Next came the difficult first vintage. Released in 1998 in a year filled with nothing but rain, the Merlot grapes struggled to bloom and the Cabernet was not far behind. Thanks to genius winemaking learned from the Bordeaux vineyards, Seillan was able to salvage a drinkable vintage by using Pinot Noir vine cuttings into the wine. 

"The Right of The Soil"

Winemaking at Verite Winery has always followed an old-school structure, rejecting advanced machinery and difficult techniques. It has always been a part of Seillan's belief that the micro-crus are in charge, and he is a "slave to the soil." With more than 50 micro-crus and 4 appellations on the estate's vineyards, Seillan and Jackson thoroughly studied the soils of each and created a varied approach to each, as follows:

• On the Chalk Hill appellation, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot are grown here, adding a minerality to the final bottling.
• In Alexander Valley, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon thrive in rocky, red volcanic soil, creating power, spice, and complexity in the wine. 
• The Knights Valley region is known for gravelly volcanic soil, perfect for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to flourish.
• The sandy loam of Bennett Valley allows for a vibrant character of the grapes.

Seillan's Free California Reign

Tired of the strict winemaking regulations and techniques in Bordeaux, Seillan looked to Napa as a blank slate to freely experiment. Rather than opting for modern technology and fancy gadgets, Seillan prefers an old-school approach with small, innovative tweaks. He prefers style over a site, a stark contrast to most Napa winemakers who covet specific vineyards more than anything else. Together, Pierre Seillan and his daughter Helen comprise Verite Winery's modern team. Poised to take control from her dad, Helene mirrors his attitude, claiming, "I’m afraid of tech and too much automatic stuff; I’m completely in tune with him in that way."

The estate looks to continue its production of 5,000 cases a year across three labels - La Joie, the Cabernet Sauvignon dominant, La Desir, Cabernet Franc dominant, and La Muse, Merlot dominant. Stability is the name of the game for Verite, who regularly receive multiple scores in the high 90s from renowned critics and publications. 

Introduce Verite Wines Of Sonoma To Your Cellar

There are 50+ vintages of Verite in our collection, from the first releases in 2000 to modern classics with the dazzling 2019 bottle. Capture some of Napa's best red wines, ready-to-drink or stored in your cellar.