Vintners Resort in Santa Rosa. (Courtesy Vintners Resort)
The Jackson family, of Jackson Family Wines, is partnering with Ensemble Investments, LLC—a developer, owner and operator of luxury hotels and commercial real estate—to purchase Vintners Resort in Santa Rosa.
Vintners Resort, established by the Carano family in 1984 and located at 4350 Barnes Road, was one of the first luxury resorts on a working vineyard in Sonoma County. The acquisition includes the entire 92-acre estate property, including Vintners Resort and Spa, conference meeting and event spaces, John Ash & Co. restaurant, River Vine restaurant, vibrant flower and culinary gardens, fig and olive orchards, and the estate vineyards, according to an announcement from Jackson Family Wines.
Rhonda Carano said in a press release she’s confident the Jackson family and Ensemble will build on the resort’s four-decade legacy.
“It is time for me to step back and smell the roses. I feel very fortunate that our family will be able to pass the torch to another well-respected Sonoma County team,” said Rhonda Carano.
The Carano family’s wine imprint in Sonoma County dates back to 1979 when Donald and Rhonda Carano launched the Ferrari-Carano Winery, five years before founding Vintners Inn. Donald Carano died in 2017.
The day-to-day management and operations of Vintners Resort will be handled by Ensemble under the direction of Kristi Allen, executive vice president of hotels, with Brian Sommer continuing in his current role as general manager. Ensemble will work side-by-side with the Jackson family on the long-term strategic vision, including design and/or facility upgrades, new experiential offerings and the branding and positioning of the property.
Michael Moskowitz, CEO of Ensemble, said his Long Beach-based company has long admired the Sonoma region and has been eyeing a partnership in a resort here for many years. “We have been searching for the right opportunity, where we can contribute our development and management expertise,” said Moskowitz. “And there’s no doubt this is it.”
“Many employees have a long tenure with the resort and both the Jackson family and Ensemble will prioritize its family culture and workforce longevity,” JFW officials said in the release.
Barbara Banke, proprietor and chair of Jackson Family Wines, said she looks forward to collaborating with Ensemble to “enhance [the resort’s] reputation as a premiere, world-class wine country destination.”
“We have known the Carano family for a long time, and we’ve celebrated many family meals and milestones at John Ash & Co restaurant,” said Banke. “The Vintners Resort has special meaning to our family.”
The acquisition closed on May 31, with Poppy Bank providing financing. In expressing Poppy’s support for the acquisition, the bank’s President and CEO Khalid Acheckzai applauded the Jackson family and Ensemble for their shared “vision of keeping Vintners Resort a top-of-market local attraction and destination venue.”
Visit vintnersresort.com.