Exclusive: The Underwood Family Unveils New California Winery, Jonive

The Underwood family, owners of Young’s Holdings, has unveiled its new Jonive winery in the Sebastopol Hills of the Russian River Valley. Wilson Daniels, also part of Young’s Holdings, is launching the first wines from Jonive nationally.

The brand takes its name from the original 1845 California land grant titled Rancho Cañada de Jonive. It’s launching with two wines, a 2021 Estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, both retailing at $70 a bottle and grown in the winery’s Moon Dust Vineyard, which is planted to 19- to 27-year-old vines.

“When the opportunity presented itself to purchase the 18-acre Moon Dust Vineyard in 2021, my family and I sensed its potential to produce world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and decided this would be our avenue into making wine,” said Chris Underwood, CEO of Young’s Holdings and proprietor of Jonive.

“Although Jonive is a new brand, the property has history, and the vineyard has maturity with vines first planted in 1996,” Wilson Daniels president Rocco Lombardo tells SND. “Ultimately, the production will arrive at 2,500 cases from the Moondust Vineyard, of which 75% is Pinot Noir. Our focus will be in the independent channel with a strong emphasis in upscale restaurants.”

Jonive joins Wilson Daniels, Infinium Spirits, and real estate interests in the Young’s Holdings portfolio. The company also formerly included Young’s Market Co., a 10-state wholesale giant in the western U.S. RNDC formed a joint venture with Young’s across the wholesale footprint in 2019 and acquired full control of the business last year.—Daniel Marsteller

Tagged : Jonive, Underwood, Young's Holding

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