As co-owners of the beautiful Knights Bridge Winery in Sonoma County, California, Kelley and Jim Bailey share a commitment to excellence and to giving back. Together, they work tirelessly to generously support a wide range of philanthropic endeavors through their foundation.
Jim has had a diverse career, from investment and financial advisor to environmental entrepreneur to vintner. He formed Cambridge Associates in 1973 to provide investment and financial planning services to nonprofit, endowed institutions. For more than 50 years since, Cambridge Associates has been a leading voice in building institutional-quality portfolios for endowments, foundations, pensions, and private clients. Jim also co-founded the Plymouth Rock Co., a New England auto and homeowners’ insurance company.
Combining his passion for wine with farming, Jim and a group of family and friends purchased a 100-acre parcel of land in 2006. The Knights Bridge Vineyard is nestled in the beautiful, undeveloped west side of Knights Valley, just north of Napa Valley. Guided by a deep respect for nature, a commitment to excellence, and inspired by the rugged beauty of the region, Jim built Knights Bridge Winery with the singular goal of producing exceptional wines and sharing this remarkable place with winery guests.
Kelley Bailey began her wine career in 1987 at Bridgehampton Winery on Long Island. After a few years, she moved to Northern California and in 1993 began working with Jackson Family Wines. In 2007, she became Executive Vice President of Marketing, working closely with founders Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke to spearhead marketing strategy and brand development across the company portfolio. In 2011, she was named President of the Spire Collection, the company’s portfolio of luxury wines. In her role she managed all strategy and development including brand marketing, national sales, direct-to-consumer, hospitality and culinary. After nearly 30 years with Jackson Family Wines, Kelley retired and now serves in an advisory role to the Banke-Jackson family and senior leadership at JFW.
With more than three decades of wine industry experience, Kelley brings exceptional vision and expertise to help shape the future of Knights Bridge Winery. In early 2020, Kelley and Jim embarked on a long-awaited project to build a winery on the estate where they are now making wine and welcoming visitors to enjoy a truly exceptional experience. The winery, designed by world-renowned architect Howard Backen and envisioned by Jim, is the second-ever built in Knights Valley and its construction is the culmination of nearly a decade of thoughtful planning and designing.
Knights Bridge is built on the belief that a healthy vineyard is the foundation of superior wines and the vineyard is carefully tended using low-impact, sustainable practices. In 2011, the vineyard was recognized for its commitment to sustainable farming practices and was certified by the California Sustainable Winery Alliance. In recent years, the vineyard has been farmed organically and will be certified by CCOF with the 2023 vintage. Respecting nature while utilizing state-of-the-art farming techniques brings out the best in their soils, vines, and ultimately, their wines.
The Baileys enjoy spending time with their six grandchildren on the beautiful Knights Bridge Estate Vineyard, instilling in them a love of the land.
