Steele Wines

Jed Steele earned a master's degree in enology at UC Davis and was hired by Edmeades Winery in Mendocino County's Anderson Valley in 1974, where he led winemaking and viticulture for eight years through 1982. He developed an early reputation for Anderson Valley Pinot Noir and broader Mendocino varietal work. In 1982 he was hired as the founding winemaker at Kendall-Jackson, collaborating with vintner Jess Jackson and consulting winemaker Ric Forman to create the first Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay, which became the bestselling Chardonnay in America (per Impact Databank, 1992 to 2022). During Steele's tenure Kendall-Jackson's annual production soared from 35,000 cases in 1982 to over 700,000 by 1991. In August 1990 he was promoted to director of winemaking as Tom Selfridge was brought in as a winemaking consultant. In what was initially described as an amicable split, Steele chose to leave with a $400,000 severance plus monthly payments while he trained his successor. In May 1991 Jess Jackson fired Steele and accused him of stealing trade secrets; Steele sued for the remainder of the severance and Jackson countersued. The trade-secrets countersuit was decided in Jess Jackson's favor in 1992, when the court ruled that a winemaking process can constitute a trade secret, and Steele dropped his planned appeal in 1993. Steele founded his own eponymous winery in Lake County the same year as the firing, in 1991, building it around the négociant model.

• Edmeades 1974 to 1982: eight years leading winemaking and viticulture in Anderson Valley; hired out of UC Davis master's program
• Kendall-Jackson 1982 to 1990: founding winemaker; collaborated on the original Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay with Jess Jackson and Ric Forman
• Kendall-Jackson production grew from 35,000 cases in 1982 to over 700,000 by 1991 during Steele's tenure
• August 1990 promoted to director of winemaking; chose to leave with $400,000 severance; May 1991 fired by Jess Jackson with trade-secrets accusation; court ruled in Jackson's favor in 1992; Steele dropped his planned appeal in 1993
• Founded Steele Wines in Lake County in 1991 as eponymous négociant venture

Steele Wines operated as a négociant in the French tradition, sourcing fruit from named vineyards across multiple California AVAs and producing vineyard-designated bottlings. At its peak the winery produced a wide range of wines each vintage. The winery held about 81 vineyard acres in Lake County, but the bulk of fruit came from dozens of sourcing relationships in Mendocino, Sonoma, and Santa Barbara counties. Notable named sources included DuPratt Vineyard in Anderson Valley, Sangiacomo Vineyards in Carneros, Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Maria Valley, and additional premier California sites. The négociant approach allowed access to premium vineyards without the capital investment of estate purchase, and Jed Steele's winemaking reputation gave source vineyards confidence that their fruit would be made into wines that expressed the source character. The winery operates at Finley, California in Lake County, a facility that for many years also served as a custom-crush operation for other producers including Shannon Family of Wines, the eventual acquirer.

• Négociant model: a wide range of wines each vintage at peak production
• Approximately 81 vineyard acres in Lake County; bulk of fruit from sourcing relationships
• Source vineyards included DuPratt (Anderson Valley), Sangiacomo (Carneros), Bien Nacido (Santa Maria Valley), and others across Mendocino, Sonoma, Santa Barbara
• Finley, California facility also served as a custom-crush operation for other producers, including eventual acquirer Shannon Family of Wines

The flagship Steele Wines label focused on single-vineyard varietal bottlings. Pinot Noir from sources such as DuPratt Vineyard in Anderson Valley, Sangiacomo and other Carneros sites, and Sonoma Coast vineyards demonstrated the négociant approach to cool-climate California Pinot. Chardonnay from comparable sources completed the cool-climate program. Zinfandel from Mendocino, Lake County, and Sierra Foothills sources continued the California heritage variety identity. Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah bottlings drew from premier Napa and Central Coast sources. The Stymie label, named for the racehorse Steele's father once bet on (and won big enough to fund the family's move from New York to San Francisco), housed the reserve wines from Lake County estate-adjacent sources. The Shooting Star label was the affordable second tier, typically stainless-fermented and meant for younger drinking. Writer's Block, developed with Steele's son Quincy, was a third distinct line. Jed Steele's winemaking emphasized preservation of vineyard character through controlled extraction, moderate French oak treatment, and minimal-intervention techniques.

• Single-vineyard Pinot Noir from DuPratt (Anderson Valley), Carneros, Sonoma Coast sources
• Stymie label: reserve wines from Lake County estate-adjacent sources; name from Jed Steele's father's racehorse bet
• Shooting Star: affordable second label, often stainless-fermented for younger drinking
• Writer's Block: third distinct line developed with Jed Steele's son Quincy
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay, Zinfandel rounded out broader négociant portfolio

After Jed Steele suffered a stroke, Shannon Family of Wines (led by Clay Shannon and based in Lake County) acquired Steele Wines in August 2020. The acquisition combined the two companies and brought Shooting Star, Stymie, and Writer's Block under Shannon Family ownership alongside the Steele Wines flagship. Jed Steele assumed a supporting role assisting with production while enjoying retirement at properties in Lake County, Montana, and Florida. Jed Steele died on October 31, 2025, leaving partner Paula Doran, children Mendocino and Quincy, and granddaughter Astrid. He was widely known as Mr. Lake County for his role in establishing the appellation's premium identity, and as a mentor to multiple California winemakers who launched their own ventures after working with him.

• August 2020: Shannon Family of Wines acquired Steele Wines after Jed Steele suffered a stroke
• Brand portfolio transferred: Steele Wines, Shooting Star, Stymie, Writer's Block all moved to Shannon Family ownership
• Jed Steele stayed in supporting role
• Jed Steele died October 31, 2025; known as Mr. Lake County
• Mentor to multiple California winemakers who launched their own ventures after working at Steele Wines

Jed Steele's reputation as a senior California winemaker gave Steele Wines industry standing well beyond what its production scale would typically support. Critical recognition came continuously across major American wine publications for the single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel bottlings. Beyond the wines, Steele's legacy includes his founding work at Kendall-Jackson on Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay (the bestselling Chardonnay in America per Impact Databank, 1992 to 2022), his championing of Lake County and Mendocino terroir before either was widely recognized as premium, and his mentorship of subsequent generations of California winemakers. The post-acquisition Steele Wines under Shannon Family continues the négociant identity, drawing on sourcing relationships from Mendocino through Santa Barbara alongside the Lake County estate footprint that Shannon controls directly.

• Legacy includes Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay founding work and championing Lake County and Mendocino terroir
• Mentor to a generation of California winemakers; Mr. Lake County designation reflects influence on regional identity
• Post-acquisition Steele Wines continues négociant identity within Shannon Family of Wines portfolio