The Business & Art of Making Wine

The first-born daughter of California wine pioneers Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke, Katie Jackson is a second-generation proprietor working to keep her family-run business at the forefront of quality and stewardship. Katie actively promotes the Jackson family’s belief that environmental stewardship and social responsibility are essential to building family business that will endure for generations. Since stepping into her first winery role in the cellar at Stonestreet Estate Vineyards, Katie has continued to build on her family’s winemaking heritage. 

Today, Katie serves as senior vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility for Jackson Family Wines, a position that is equal parts sustainability and advocacy. Katie launched the company’s first sustainability report in 2016 to highlight its decades-long sustainability journey and establish comprehensive goals and is currently spearheading the development of the company’s new resiliency plan launching in 2021. Under Katie’s leadership, Jackson Family Wines has declared a commitment to become Climate Positive by 2050, built the U.S. wine industry’s largest generation of onsite solar energy, and reduced its water use intensity 48%.

Katie continues to advance water security and innovative energy management while also working to adopt regenerative farming practices. Most recently, Katie led Jackson Family Wines in co-founding the International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) with Familia Torres of Spain. IWCA’s mission is to decarbonize the global wine industry with goals for all members to become Climate Positive by 2050.

As the Jackson family’s principal voice in promoting sustainable agriculture programs, Katie ensures that the family’s vineyards throughout California and Oregon are certified sustainable. Additionally, Katie co-manages the Government Relations and External Affairs Department working on critical regulatory relations issues and directs charitable donations for the company’s community outreach program.