Jean-Charles Boisset

Jean-Charles Boisset was born into the world of wine in the village of Vougeot, Burgundy, France. His lifelong passion for wine began as a child, as he grew up above the cellars and within view of the centuries-old vineyards of Château du Clos de Vougeot, the epicenter and birthplace of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

His parents, Jean-Claude and Claudine, founded the family winery in 1961 with an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit in one of the most traditional winegrowing regions in the world. Today, the family collection includes wineries that share more than 20 centuries of combined winemaking heritage and tradition in some of the world’s most prestigious terroirs, from Burgundy to the South of France, to California’s Napa Valley and Russian River Valley.

Boisset leads the family firm with passionate commitment to fine wine, history, quality and a deep respect for the environment. He implemented organic and Biodynamic farming at all of the family’s estate vineyards in Burgundy and California. In 2009 Boisset’s quest for California wineries with a sense of history, heritage and a pioneering spirit led him to Raymond Vineyards in the Napa Valley, where five generations of family winemaking anchors it to the earliest days of the Napa Valley. Under his vision, Raymond has become a leading producer of luxury fine wines, implemented organic and Biodynamic farming on its 150 acre Rutherford & St. Helena estate vineyards, and become among the most dynamic winery destinations in California, earning “Winery of the Year” honors from Wine Enthusiast magazine. In 2011, Boisset’s dream of championing California wine history became a reality when Buena Vista Winery, California’s first premium winery founded in 1857, became a part of Boisset Collection.

In 2015 Boisset and Raymond Vineyards partnered with Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony and Golden Globe-award winning singer, songwriter, humanitarian and philanthropist John Legend to create the LVE: Legend Vineyard Exclusive collection of wines, which number six and counting. As a world-renowned singer, songwriter and performer, John Legend’s passion for inspiring memorable moments led him to become devoted to another art form, that of winemaking. The partnership has developed into a friendship, with Boisset and John frequently attending each other’s events, including several private concerts given by John both in Napa Valley and the Los Angeles area.

In 2019 Boisset Collection acquired Oakville Grocery, with the nearly 140-year-old flagship location in Oakville in Napa Valley (the oldest continually operating grocery in California) as well as the store in Healdsburg, which sits on the historic Healdsburg Plaza. Boisset has also expanded from the world of wine and spirits to include a lifestyle vision; he has created namesake collections for jewelry, perfume and the JCB Passion Collection by Baccarat — the first glassware line the historic French crystal company has ever done with a vintner. In addition, the JCB offerings include home accessories that exemplify the JCB world of hospitality and entertaining.

Boisset sets forth a vision of the wine and luxury worlds centered on family, passion, history, innovation and a commitment to sustainability. Decanter magazine has included him on its “Power List” of the 50 most important people in the wine world each year of its publication since 2007; in March 2008, he received the Meininger’s International Wine Entrepreneur of the Year; and in December 2008, he was named “Innovator of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast. The French-American Foundation awarded him their first-ever French-American Partnership Award in 2013, bestowed upon an extraordinary individual or organization that has contributed to creating a strong and enduring French-American partnership in business, government or academia. Haute Living named him to the Haute List San Francisco, recognizing the 100 most influential people in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was honored with the 2014 Jefferson Award by the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, which celebrates the museum’s historical connection to wine. Also in 2014, JFK University in Concord named Boisset and his wife Gina Gallo its “Entrepreneurs of the Year.” In 2015 Boisset was named an Honorary Co-Chair of that year’s Sonoma Harvest Wine Auction, which broke all records by raising a staggering $4.5 million. In March 2017, Boisset and Gina received the Mondavi Food & Wine award Robert Mondavi Wine & Food award by The Collins College of Hospitality Management in honor of their vision and leadership to advance the wine industry. In May 2019 Boisset accepted the Wine Country Business of the Year French American Business Award from the French American Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco.