Unsworth Vineyards Sells to Banke Jackson Family Members

From the ‘out of left field’ department comes news today that Unsworth Vineyards has been purchased by Barbara Banke and Julia Jackson of California.

This is a significant development for the recently proclaimed Cowichan Valley Sub-GI. It marks the first time that a Cowichan winery has been sold to major outside owners. No doubt, it will result in increased awareness of the valley as a whole.

The Turyk family and the team who have built Unsworth into one of Vancouver Island’s flagship wineries, will remain in place. Evidently, Ms. Banke’s and Ms. Jackson’s well-known commitment to sustainable winegrowing were key factors in the family’s decision.

Here’s the full release from today’s announcement…

The Turyk Family wishes to inform our valued customers, suppliers, growers, and all industry friends that effective June 22, 2020 Unsworth Vineyards will come under new ownership. We are thrilled to announce that the new owners of Unsworth will be Barbara Banke and Julia Jackson, members of the Banke / Jackson family of California.

We are pleased to say that the Company will continue to operate as a family-owned vineyard, winery and restaurant under the Unsworth name, and I will continue to manage the business. All current employees will remain in their key roles, and now will have the resources to truly challenge their skills and pursue their passion. All of us are excited at this opportunity to continue our vision that has evolved over the past 10 years, and with the new wealth of knowledge and experience behind us, help take Unsworth to a new level in terms of the grapes we grow, the wines we produce and the guest experience we offer.

There is a growing awareness, in wine circles, of Vancouver Island’s uniqueness within British Columbia’s wine regions, and very recently, the Cowichan Valley has been approved as a Sub-Geographical Indication of Vancouver Island region. We expect that the ownership change will not only be beneficial for Unsworth, but will further enhance the perception of Vancouver Island as a premium winegrowing region, to the benefit of all participants.

We thank all for the strong support over the past 10 years. We are proud of our accomplishments, and are personally gratified that Unsworth will continue to flourish long into the future.

Tim, Colleen & Chris Turyk

About the Author: Tim Pawsey

Tim has been covering the food and wine revolution for about 20 kilos. Count 15 kg alone thanks to the blossoming cuisine and wine culture of British Columbia, Canada. Tim’s hallmark is seeking out and recommending value wines from BC and around the world that offer quality at every level. He also scopes out noteworthy restaurants that live up to their promises—and often over deliver. Readers depend on the Hired Belly for his “Belly’s Best” and “Belly’s Budget Best” picks to help them find the right wine for the occasion. For several decades Tim wrote columns in the Vancouver Courier and North Shore News. He contributes to several other publications, including BCLS Taste magazine, Quench, Vitis and many others. Tim is a frequent judge for wine competitions and was a founding judge of The BC Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Wine. He is frequently invited to judge at The BC Wine Awards, and others. Tim has traveled to taste in many of the world’s leading wine regions, most recently in Burgundy, Argentina and Chile.