Josh Evans - Proprietor

A throwback to the simplicity of childhood, Jack Wines illustrates the youthful spirit of proprietor Josh Evans and pays homage to his late grandfather Jack, who instilled in him the dedication to work hard and commitment to pursue his dreams. “It’s a clever label for serious wines,” says Evans. With the first release of the Jack Wines label, a 2006 Grenache Rosé, Evans makes his dream of owning a winery a reality. Inspired by the traditional Négociant wine merchants of France, this intimate winery hand-selects grapes from specific acres throughout Napa and the Central Coast before the annual fall harvest, making each wine a true representation of a vineyard's finest.

An under-30 entrepreneur with a background in marketing and the restaurant business, Evans developed a passion and palate for wine early in his career, and soon aspired to open his own winery. “Owning a wine bar allowed me to meet some fantastic people in the world of wine, from chateau owners to local vineyard farmers to producers and distributors,” he says. “Their enthusiasm and conviction for the wine industry was infectious and I simply fell in love with that way of life.” The Jack Wines vision became a reality in early 2006 with the purchase of a few acres in Napa Valley, which would eventually produce the label’s first wine: The Highland Vineyard Grenache Rosé.

The Jack Wines 2006 portfolio will include a refreshing old-vine Highland Vineyard Grenache Rosé, an incredibly dark velvety Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir, a bold and tannic Oakville Merlot and a deep aromatic Napa Mountain Malbec with hints of blackberry and cracked pepper.

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Based in Napa Valley, esteemed winemaker Brian Graham lends his honed talents to creating the wines that proudly wear the Jack label. “Surround yourself with good people and the rest will follow,” Evans says of Graham, whom Evans hand-selected to work with for this venture. Graham, who has been making wines in the Napa region for more than 10 years, uses French sensibilities and styling in the winemaking process. Before starting Ramian Estate in 2000, Graham attended the University of Bordeaux and was mentored at Bordeaux's Chateau Roquefort and the boutique Domaine Serrigny Jean-Pierre & Fils in Savigny-Les-Beaune in Burgundy.

“Brian is very hands-on in the winemaking process and his care and attention to detail really comes through in Jack Wines, thus creating unique Napa region blends with French impressions throughout each bottle,” says Evans.

The collaboration between Evans and Graham combines young ambition with classical training, creating a smart partnership that brings forth European-style wines made from Californian grapes. “Napa is generally known for its fruit-forward, big, bold wines,” says Evans. “We wanted to add elegance by blending the same fruit in a more refined European way.” Evans and Graham agreed on a French approach, from extraction to barreling to the bottling of Jack Wines, all while maintaining an unpretentious and approachable label that people can enjoy both at a casual outdoor barbecue, or paired with a fine dining tasting menu.