One of Wine Country’s most prolific winery owners recently closed two of his Napa Valley tasting rooms.
Jean-Charles Boisset — a French vintner whose Boisset Collection holdings include Napa Valley’s Raymond Vineyards; Sonoma County’s Buena Vista and DeLoach; and the famed Oakville Grocery — shuttered Chateau Buena Vista in downtown Napa and the JCB Tasting Salon in Yountville in the past month.
Boisset Collection is the holding company for Boisset’s seemingly endless list of endeavors, which include, in addition to winery estates and brands that sell wines from both California and his native Burgundy, spirits, specialty food markets and luxury goods. The collection’s tasting rooms are known for their flamboyant design, typically featuring a combination of red velvet, leopard print, marble, mirrors and crystal chandeliers. In addition to wine, they offer caviar and chocolates, as well as perfume, jewelry and crystal glassware, and they frequently host elaborate, themed soirées, such as Gatsby, James Bond and Barbie parties.
Last year, leading up to the closings, the serial entrepreneur was uncharacteristically quiet. The company’s biggest 2025 announcement was that it was offering free tasting flights at DeLoach and Raymond — perhaps a clue that the company, like most California wineries, was grappling with visitation declines. A flurry of closures hit Wine Country last year, and more are expected to follow in 2026. In a reflective Instagram post on Dec. 31, Boisset noted that “the wine world is uncertain.”…