Jackson, trucking firm join forces

Wine mogul Jess Jackson has partnered with a Napa trucking firm to control the distribution of his brands and other premium wines in the state.

Jackson, whose family owns Kendall-Jackson winery and more than 30 other brands, formed the joint venture with Biagi Brothers, a Napa-based wine transportation and warehousing company.

The new company, Vin Lux, is distributing more than 60 domestic and international wines handled by Jackson's distribution arm, Regal Wine Co.

Vin Lux operates from two warehouses, one in Napa and another in Southern California, and serves 9,000 retailers and restaurants with a fleet of 35 trucks, said Tom Tunt, Vin Lux president.

The company hopes to attract other winery clients by offering a higher level of service -- including hybrid delivery trucks and sophisticated wine tracking systems -- than its competitors, Tunt said.

Vin Lux replaces the third-party distribution company Regal had been using. Jackson began self-distributing all of his wines in California in 1996 after a high-profile break with Southern Wine and Spirits.

-- Kevin McCallum