Home Industry News Releases Laird Family Estate Purchases 41 Acre Vineyard in Oak Knoll

Laird Family Estate Purchases 41 Acre Vineyard in Oak Knoll

370
2
Advertisement

Ken Laird and his wife Gail have just purchased a Cabernet and Merlot Vineyard formerly owned by William Jaeger III. The vineyard fronts on the corner of Oak Knoll Ave. and Highway 29. Mr. Jaeger is the son of William Jaeger II one of the founding fathers of Freemark Abbey and Rutherford Hill wineries.

Sensing the potential for high quality cabernet and merlot grapes, the Senior Jaeger purchased numerous vineyards in the Oak Knoll appellation back in the early 1970’s. He passed them on to his children who have leased them out to Sterling (now Treasury Wine Estates) for the past half century. Sensing the timing was ripe, William Jaeger III hired veteran vineyard expert, Jeffrey Earl Warren (now with Pacific Union international and former President of James Warren & Son) to expedite the transaction.

“Ken Laird was the perfect buyer,” said Warren. “He owns hundreds of acres in the Oak Knoll appellation; is familiar with the soils, thermography, and water situations—and has a love and knowledge of the Napa Valley and the wine industry that is second to none.” 

“The vineyard is probably essentially a replant, but the soil profiles, coupled with Ken’s farming expertise portend future greatness for the vineyard.”

The price is undisclosed, but Warren believes that is it a record price in, not just the Napa Valley, but the country, for a 40 acre vineyard that needs to be replanted in the next few years.

“Of course, being at the intersection of Highway 29 and Oak Knoll, means that it is an outstanding winery site. Just across the street and south of Trefethern, it will be literally the first winery site north of Napa on Highway 29. Being the ‘Fustust with the mostest,’ obviously added to its value.”

Advertisement

2 COMMENTS

  1. Alas, wineries as “event sights” are becoming more common all over the Valley. One can understand the Wineries’ point of view, but it does seem contrary to the principles of the Ag Preserve. Were it not for the Wine Industry we, as a county, would be no where. They are our life blood. But were it not for the Ag Preserve, the Wineries would not have their current appeal. We’ve come a long way from when Michael Mondavi was getting in his father’s old station wagon, pulling out on highway 29 and driving really, really slow, before taking a left hand turn–in the hopes of luring some of the backed up traffic into Mondavi’s Oakville facility.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.