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.

Jess Jackson Winemaker

Jess Jackson was born into a failing economy and a struggling family during the Great Depression, eventually making his way into the Berkeley School of Law, where he worked multiple jobs to pay for his education and livelihood. The now-famous winemaker was almost kicked out due to university rules, which prohibited students from working while in the program. However, he forced his way into remaining a student and graduated with honors, beginning a lifelong law career. 

Jackson's successful career in real estate and land-use law helped fund the purchase of an 80-acre walnut and pear orchard in Lake County, which was later transformed into the Kendall-Jackson vineyard. Then, in 1982, the winery was formally founded. The company prided itself on crafting premium, but affordable, Chardonnays for consumers looking for Napa cult-esque wines without the hefty price tag. After years of refining the winemaking process, 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.

Verite Winery: Challenging Beginnings

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 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; the winemaker was rejected for a green card three times by the US government, though he finally made his way under the premise of working as a 'vigneron.' Next came the difficult 1998 Verite vintage. The estate's inaugural release was a year marked by intense rainstorms (gaining the nickname 'El Niño') in which the Merlot and Cabernet vines struggled to bloom. Thanks to the genius winemaking learned from the Bordeaux vineyards, Seillan salvaged a drinkable vintage by blending Pinot Noir into the wine. 

Verite Sonoma Terroir: "The Right of The Soil"

Winemaking at Verite Winery has always been traditional, rejecting advanced machinery and difficult techniques. Seillan believes he is a "slave to the soil" and that the terroir is in charge. 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.

Verite Wines: Bordeaux-Style Blends

Tired of the strict winemaking regulations and techniques in Bordeaux, Seillan looked to California as a blank slate to freely experiment. His preference for style over site is a stark contrast to most California winemakers, known for coveting specific vineyards above all else. Together, Pierre Seillan and his daughter Helen comprise Verite Winery's modern winemaking team. Helene is poised to take over her father's position and mirrors his attitude, claiming, "I’m afraid of tech and too much automatic stuff; I’m completely in tune with him in that way." Ultimately, the estate looks to continue producing 5,000 cases a year across its three flagship labels: La Muse, La Joie, and Le Desir.

Verite La Muse

La Muse is Verite's Merlot-based offering, inspired by the superb Right Bank Pomerol wines. Bottles are known for their incredible depth and texture, displaying exceptional fruit and spice notes and an impressive finish. Each vintage is aged for 15 months in 100% new French oak, allowing the final blend to be enjoyed in its youth or cellar-aged for years.

Verite La Joie

La Joie is a beautiful Bordeaux-style blend, dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and incorporating Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot from the hillsides of the Mayacamas Mountains. The Mountain-grown fruit grows to become dense, powerful, and rich, reflecting the Old World, savory wines from Pauillac. 

Verite Le Desir

Le Desir is Verite's "Saint-Emilion-esque" wine, marked by the profound structure and high-toned aromatics of Cabernet Franc. Bottles typically contain a touch of Malbec and Merlot, leading to a lingering minerality and silky texture. 

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.