Latest news with #Kruse
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unearthed Priscilla Presley Video Raises New Questions in Elder-Abuse War
Last July, Priscilla Presley claimed in a stunning lawsuit that she was the victim of a 'meticulously planned' financial elder-abuse scheme that defrauded her out of more than $1 million. The author, actress, and ex-wife of Elvis Presley alleged that Florida memorabilia dealer Brigitte Kruse 'duped' her into signing 'unconscionable and unenforceable' contracts that gave Kruse full control of her finances and exclusive rights to her valuable name, image, and likeness. Kruse disputed the allegations, claiming Presley was facing 'impending financial ruin' when she stepped in to help rescue the cultural icon. In her own breach of contract lawsuit filed against Presley in October 2023, Kruse said she essentially shut down her auction business to help manage Presley's life full-time. She said her 51 percent share of Priscilla Presley Partners — the main company formed to own and control Presley's publicity rights — reflected her indispensable role. (Presley received 49 percent.) More from Rolling Stone Kevin Costner Sued by Stunt Performer Over Allegedly Unscripted 'Horizon 2' Rape Scene Sean Combs' Ex-Employee Says Mogul Threatened to Kill Kid Cudi I Prosecuted R. Kelly. The Sean Combs Allegations Fit the Same Script A pivotal moment described in both lawsuits was a videotaped document-signing session held at Kruse's Florida home on Jan. 8, 2023. At the meeting, Presley was represented by Florida lawyer Lynn Walker Wright as Presley signed contracts formalizing several new companies. Presley claims she was ambushed and defrauded, adding that Walker Wright was Kruse's 'friend' and that she was asked to sign the documents 'with little to no explanation of the contents of each agreement.' In a sworn statement last year, Presley said Walker Wright failed to advise her of potential downsides, including that the agreements gave her only minority interests in everything — in some cases, only 20 percent. Presley's lawsuit called Kruse a 'con artist and pathological liar' who took advantage of an 'elderly' mark. (Presley was 77 at the time.) Rolling Stone has now obtained a recording of that meeting. The video, being shared publicly for the first time, gives a new window into arguably the most crucial juncture in the high-profile and deeply contentious legal battle. Presley's supporters will note the dramatic moment when Presley makes clear, on camera, that she hadn't had a chance to read the documents. 'Jeez, it's a lot of paperwork. I'm glad I didn't have to sit here and read it,' Presley says. 'I'm glad you read it,' she continues, reaching out to pat Walker Wright's arm. But at other stages of the meeting, Presley states more than once that she is signing the contracts of her own free will because she trusts Kruse. She appears fully cognizant throughout the 27-minute video and looks relaxed and polished, dressed in a designer outfit. At one point, she discusses having attended a high-profile social engagement the night before, where she met President Donald Trump. 'It was actually quite a fun evening. It really was,' Presley says. 'We sat at the table with Trump and his beautiful wife, and I was pleasantly surprised. It was very entertaining. I got to meet his family.' Priscilla Presley Document-Signing Video Clips 'Mrs. Presley, has anyone tried to twist your arm or [is anyone] in any way unduly influencing you into making any decisions that we're going to have you sign off on today?' Walker Wright asks, with Presley seated next to her in the home theater at Kruse's Florida residence. 'No, not at all,' Presley says in a soft voice. Presley confirms on-camera that it was her decision to award Kruse power of attorney and install Kruse as a new co-trustee of her estate alongside Presley's cousin, Barbara Iversen. In the video, Walker Wright explains that Kruse and Iversen are replacing Presley's former business manager, Barry Siegel, and asks why Presley is seeking the switch. 'I believe in them,' Presley says of Kruse and Iversen. 'And I trust them, and they know a lot about my business.' Walker Wright then asks Presley if there's anyone else she wants in the room for the document signing. 'Probably Brigitte,' Presley says. Walker Wright acknowledges for the camera that Kruse has joined them in the room. 'Hi, Ms. Presley,' Kruse says in a soft voice from a position off-camera. When Presley confirms she personally requested that Kruse join them, as a 'witness,' Kruse calls the gesture 'so sweet.' The first document Walker Wright asks Presley to sign is an acknowledgement that Walker Wright is representing Presley personally while also acting as the lawyer who drafted the contracts between Kruse, Presley, and a third partner, business adviser Kevin Fialko. 'It's a document that protects me, so all three of you all know that I've got the hat on where I've done the LLCs, but I'm representing you personally, so nothing is in conflict,' Walker Wright says. Without missing a beat, the lawyer turns to the signature page, and Presley signs. (Walker Wright later stated in a declaration filed in California that she saw no conflict in her role representing both Kruse and Presley because the parties signed self-prepared agreements in October 2022 outlining their business relationship. She determined the partnership had 'already been negotiated,' she wrote.) In the video, Presley signs the document creating Priscilla Presley Partners, the company that gave Kruse the controlling 51 percent stake in Presley's intellectual property. 'This company now will manage your name, image, and likeness, and it is very private and confidential, so I'm gonna have you sign that first so I can put that away,' Walker Wright says. 'Do I get copies of these?' Presley asks. 'Yes, ma'am,' Walker Wright responds. 'There's only one set of originals, because I don't want there to be more than one. They will go back with me today. I will be in charge of the chain of custody of this.' (Walker Wright stated in her September declaration that she shared at least some of the documents with Presley's San Diego-based attorneys ahead of time. In a separate declaration filed in November, Presley said she had 'no knowledge' of that.) In the video, Walker Wright then describes the document giving Kruse power of attorney. '[It] means that she can manage your business affairs when you can't. This means that she can do your banking for you. This means that she can speak to, I don't know, business persons for you.… This is what she will have to take care of your business. It is good during your lifetime,' Walker Wright says. 'I don't like thinking about this stuff,' Kruse says, off-camera, referring to any suggestion she might need to make decisions for Presley due to incapacitating illness. 'Neither do I,' Presley says, eliciting laughter in the room. 'I will always work with Navarone on that,' Kruse says, still off-camera, referring to Presley's adult son Navarone Garibaldi. 'I will be hand in hand with Navarone, always. If anything ever happens, my thing is, I just want to be there for him.' Presley thanks Kruse, placing a hand to her heart. Walker Wright then has Presley sign a residential lease for a property owned by Kruse's husband. The lawyer mentions the husband, Vahe 'Mike' Sislyan, by name, but does not specify on camera that it's a five-year lease. 'It is going to be your Florida address, because you are going to be our neighbor,' the lawyer says. 'Yes,' Presley responds. 'OK, I get it.' The moment is notable considering Presley has claimed in multiple filings that she did not want or need the lease, never occupied the Orlando property, and had no idea Kruse's husband owned it. When it was time for Presley to sign the contract creating Virtual Recollections — the company set up to develop Presley-related holograms, NFTs, and other digital products — Walker Wright said nothing on camera about how Kruse and Fialko would receive separate 40 percent shares while Presley would receive a 20 percent share. In her lawsuit, Presley called the split 'egregious and outrageous.' 'I only need your signature right there,' the lawyer says on the video, turning to the signature next document was for a similarly titled company, Recollections of Priscilla Presley, which was set up to collect money from any transactions where Presley offers her personal recollections to authenticate — and ostensibly increase the value of — Presley family memorabilia. That contract, signed by Presley, gave Kruse 47 percent, Presley 43 percent, and Fialko 10 percent. 'Let me just see something,' Presley says, taking the document and flipping to a prior page. The lawyer asks if she's looking for the 'percentages.' Presley says yes. The lawyer flips to the ownership breakdown page. 'I do want to talk to her about this,' Presley says, referring to Kruse. Walker Wright then sets that contract aside. At this point, Presley makes the comment that she's glad she didn't have to read the contracts. In a statement sent to Rolling Stone, Presley's lawyer, Wayne Harman, says his client stands by her claim that Kruse and Fialko took advantage of her. 'Ms. Presley trusted Ms. Kruse and Mr. Fialko, and believed them when they promised that their efforts to have complete control over her finances were for Ms. Presley's benefit. When Ms. Presley discovered the extent of what they had done, including, as she alleges in the complaint, transferring hundreds of thousands of dollars from her bank accounts to their own, and declaring that they had a majority interest in Ms. Presley's own name, image, and likeness in perpetuity, she was devastated,' Harman says. (Fialko and his lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.) At another point in the video, Presley asks if it's even an option for her to act as trustee of her own trust while she's still alive, and only designate Kruse and Iversen as successor co-trustees (meaning they would take over only after Presley's death). Walker Wright says she can. Kruse then steps in, advising Presley that it's best to make them co-trustees ahead of time. 'It's the inevitable, anyways,' Kruse says. 'You're always going to be the boss,' Kruse assures Presley. 'I don't think so,' Presley says with a laugh. The video ends with Walker Wright leaving the room so Presley could speak with Kruse about the Recollections contract. Though it's not shown on camera, the document was eventually signed that day. It was later attached as an exhibit to court filings in the civil cases. In a second video from the same day, also obtained by Rolling Stone, Presley is heard describing why she decided to designate Kruse as her medical power of attorney. 'I trust her, and she's been through this, and I've watched her with someone very close to her. I was impressed with the love and the care and the attention that she gave this loved one. And I trust her with me,' Presley says. Reached by phone, Kruse says Presley was referring to her efforts caring for a longtime friend who died of cancer. Speaking to Rolling Stone, Kruse denies taking advantage of Presley. Kruse says she was working for Presley seven days a week leading up to their dispute and 'thoroughly' discussed with her the ownership breakdowns of the various companies. She claims Presley agreed to the percentages before the signing meeting because she agreed Kruse and Fialko were doing the 'heavy lifting' in terms of monetizing her intellectual property. (Presley still owns her first name, Priscilla, but she previously forfeited her right to exploit the Presley surname when she received a $6.5 million payment in a deal back in 2005.) 'I truly cared for this woman like I would my own parent,' Kruse says. 'I never needed to hook my wagon to Priscilla Presley. As a matter of fact, the worst mistake I ever made was trying to help her.' In the elder-abuse lawsuit, Presley and her lawyers blasted Walker Wright, saying her decision to videotape her own client, especially with Kruse in the room, crossed a line. In her sworn statement, Walker Wright stood by her actions. 'I had videotaped other clients executing estate planning and other documents in the past if I had any concern that a document would possibly later be contested,' she said. 'Lynn Walker Wright categorically denies any claims of elder abuse or any other claims in the lawsuit by Ms Presley,' Walker Wright's lawyer, Jennifer Eden, says in a statement to Rolling Stone. She says Presley 'dismissed all claims against my client,' noting that the claims were dropped 'with prejudice,' meaning they cannot be filed again. In her preemptive lawsuit filed first in 2023, Kruse alleged that Presley illegally walked out on their agreements when her financial circumstances changed in the wake of Lisa Marie Presley's death. As Rolling Stone previously reported, two weeks after Lisa Marie died on Jan. 12, 2023, Presley challenged a 2016 amendment to her daughter's trust that removed her as a co-trustee. Presley later reached a settlement with granddaughter Riley Keough that granted her a $1 million lump-sum payment, a $100,000 annual salary, and burial rights near Elvis at Graceland. Priscilla Presley Document-Signing Full Video Kruse claimed that once Presley's financial situation changed, she 'cut off all communication' with Kruse and excluded her from opportunities to capitalize on Sofia Coppola's Priscilla, the film adaptation of Presley's memoir Elvis and Me. Kruse also claimed Presley redirected the 'request booking' button on her personal website to an email address not associated with Priscilla Presley Partners, an alleged violation of their partnership. Speaking to Rolling Stone, Kruse calls Presley's elder-abuse lawsuit 'heartbreaking,' saying it took a wrecking ball to her reputation and career. 'It's all been ruined because I tried to help her,' she says. But Presley and her lawyers aren't backing down. They claim Kruse and Fialko attached themselves to Presley to boost their own profiles. In the suit, they accuse the pair of having 'the audacity' to demand that Priscilla's settlement with Keough over Lisa Marie's death include a promise that Keough would do her best to get Kruse and Fialko invited to Priscilla's eventual funeral. In a declaration filed in March, Presley also claimed Kruse attempted to get a credit on Priscilla, and that her interference 'strained' Presley's relationship with Coppola. 'Financial elder abuse is an extremely serious matter that often goes unreported, and the perpetrators are often those closest to the victims; those who have gained the victim's trust and isolated him or her from her family, friends, and trusted advisers,' Harman says. 'The circumstances leading up to Ms. Presley's claims in this case are not easy for her to discuss, but she gained the courage to take action by knowing that it will bring awareness' to a 'significant problem,' he says. 'We look forward to the court holding defendants fully accountable for their actions.' As Kruse's business lawsuit and Presley's elder-abuse complaint continue to unfold on separate coasts, the parties are waging a fierce battle over which court is the right venue. Kruse has been fighting to have all aspects heard in Florida, where she lives and alleges she was wronged. Presley is fighting for California, where she lives and alleges she was the victim of a 'ruse.' Harman says California has 'a strong policy and statutory scheme to protect its citizens against elder abuse.' The judge overseeing the California case has set a hearing for July 17. In a recent ruling, he upheld Presley's fraud claims against Fialko while dismissing a conspiracy claim. The judge found that while some of the disputed contracts include clauses favoring Florida law, Presley's fraud and elder-abuse allegations should be governed by California statutes. Fraud 'is a defense to enforcement of a contract,' the judge wrote in an order earlier this month. In the Florida case, an evidentiary hearing on Presley's motion to dismiss for alleged lack of jurisdiction is set for July 21. No matter where the legal feud eventually lands, the video of the document signing in 2023 will undoubtedly play a significant role. Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
India views China as 'primary adversary', Pakistan as 'ancillary problem': US report
India perceives China as its 'primary adversary' and Pakistan as 'an ancillary security problem to be managed' despite the military clashes this month triggered by New Delhi's military strikes on terrorist facilities, according to a new assessment by the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Pakistan, on the other hand, sees India as an 'existential threat' and will continue the development of tactical nuclear weapons to counter India's conventional military advantage, while tensions between India and China on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are 'capable of escalating quickly', DIA director Lt Gen Jeffrey Kruse said in his worldwide threat assessment to the US House armed services subcommittee on intelligence. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to target terrorist infrastructure in territories controlled by Pakistan in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians last month. The strikes triggered four days of intense clashes using drones, missiles and long-range weapons that ended with an understanding between the two countries on halting military actions on May 10. The DIA assessment, presented on May 11, said the Indian and Pakistani militaries had 'agreed to a full ceasefire' after multiple rounds of missile, drone and loitering munition attacks and heavy artillery fire during May 7-10. Kruse concluded: 'India views China as its primary adversary and Pakistan more an ancillary security problem to be managed, despite cross-border attacks in mid-May by both India's and Pakistan's militaries.' On the other hand, the DIA said, Pakistan regards India as 'an existential threat and will continue to pursue its military modernisation effort, including the development of battlefield nuclear weapons, to offset India's conventional military advantage'. Pakistan is modernising its nuclear arsenal and 'almost certainly procures WMD-applicable goods from foreign suppliers and intermediaries', the assessment said. 'Pakistan primarily is a recipient of China's economic and military largesse, and Pakistani forces conduct multiple combined military exercises every year with China's PLA', it said. Chinese-origin combat jets such as the JF-17 and J-10C and the PL-15 missile were extensively used by Pakistan during the recent clashes. The DIA said foreign materials and technology supporting Pakistan's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programmes are 'very likely acquired primarily from suppliers in China, and sometimes are transshipped through Hong Kong, Singapore, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates'. The assessment further said tensions between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are 'capable of escalating quickly', and the Indian government's defence priorities will 'probably focus on demonstrating global leadership, countering China, and enhancing New Dehli's military power'. 'To counter Chinese influence and boost its global leadership role, India is giving priority to advancing its bilateral defence partnerships in the Indian Ocean region through exercises, training, arms sales, and information sharing,' the assessment said. Last October, India and China reached an agreement on disengagement of forces two remaining 'friction points' on the LAC and the leadership of the two countries agreed to revive several mechanisms to resolve the long-standing border dispute and to normalise relations. The DIA said the 'disengagement did not resolve the longstanding dispute about border demarcation but reduced some tension still lingering from a 2020 incident when troops on both sides were killed in a clash' along the LAC. The DIA further assessed that India will continue promoting its 'Make in India' initiative to build its domestic defence industry, mitigate supply chain concerns, and modernise its military. India also continued military modernisation efforts in 2024 by conducting a test of the nuclear-capable Agni-I Prime MRBM and the Agni-V multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle and by commissioning its second nuclear-powered submarine to 'strengthen its nuclear triad and bolster its ability to deter adversaries'. The DIA also concluded that India will maintain its relationship with Russia because it views these ties as 'important for achieving its economic and defence objectives and sees value in the offset deepening Russia-China relations'. While India has reduced its procurement of Russian-origin military equipment, it still relies on Russian spare parts to maintain its large inventory of Russian-origin tanks and combat jets to counter perceived threats from China and Pakistan, the assessment said.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
China adversary, Pakistan ancillary problem for New Delhi: US report
India perceives China as its 'primary adversary' and Pakistan as 'an ancillary security problem to be managed' despite the military clashes this month triggered by New Delhi's military strikes on terrorist facilities, according to a new assessment by the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Pakistan, on the other hand, sees India as an 'existential threat' and will continue the development of tactical nuclear weapons to counter India's conventional military advantage, while tensions between India and China on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are 'capable of escalating quickly', DIA director Lt Gen Jeffrey Kruse said in his worldwide threat assessment to the US House armed services subcommittee on intelligence. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to target terrorist infrastructure in territories controlled by Pakistan in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians last month. The strikes triggered four days of intense clashes using drones, missiles and long-range weapons that ended with an understanding between the two countries on halting military actions on May 10. The DIA assessment, presented on May 11, said the Indian and Pakistani militaries had 'agreed to a full ceasefire' after multiple rounds of missile, drone and loitering munition attacks and heavy artillery fire during May 7-10. Kruse concluded: 'India views China as its primary adversary and Pakistan more an ancillary security problem to be managed, despite cross-border attacks in mid-May by both India's and Pakistan's militaries.' On the other hand, the DIA said, Pakistan regards India as 'an existential threat and will continue to pursue its military modernisation effort, including the development of battlefield nuclear weapons, to offset India's conventional military advantage'. Pakistan is modernising its nuclear arsenal and 'almost certainly procures WMD-applicable goods from foreign suppliers and intermediaries', the assessment said. 'Pakistan primarily is a recipient of China's economic and military largesse, and Pakistani forces conduct multiple combined military exercises every year with China's PLA', it said. Chinese-origin combat jets such as the JF-17 and J-10C and the PL-15 missile were extensively used by Pakistan during the recent clashes. The DIA said foreign materials and technology supporting Pakistan's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programmes are 'very likely acquired primarily from suppliers in China, and sometimes are transshipped through Hong Kong, Singapore, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates'. The assessment further said tensions between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are 'capable of escalating quickly', and the Indian government's defence priorities will 'probably focus on demonstrating global leadership, countering China, and enhancing New Dehli's military power'. 'To counter Chinese influence and boost its global leadership role, India is giving priority to advancing its bilateral defence partnerships in the Indian Ocean region through exercises, training, arms sales, and information sharing,' the assessment said. Last October, India and China reached an agreement on disengagement of forces two remaining 'friction points' on the LAC and the leadership of the two countries agreed to revive several mechanisms to resolve the long-standing border dispute and to normalise relations. The DIA said the 'disengagement did not resolve the longstanding dispute about border demarcation but reduced some tension still lingering from a 2020 incident when troops on both sides were killed in a clash' along the LAC. The DIA further assessed that India will continue promoting its 'Make in India' initiative to build its domestic defence industry, mitigate supply chain concerns, and modernise its military. India also continued military modernisation efforts in 2024 by conducting a test of the nuclear-capable Agni-I Prime MRBM and the Agni-V multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle and by commissioning its second nuclear-powered submarine to 'strengthen its nuclear triad and bolster its ability to deter adversaries'. The DIA also concluded that India will maintain its relationship with Russia because it views these ties as 'important for achieving its economic and defence objectives and sees value in the offset deepening Russia-China relations'. While India has reduced its procurement of Russian-origin military equipment, it still relies on Russian spare parts to maintain its large inventory of Russian-origin tanks and combat jets to counter perceived threats from China and Pakistan, the assessment said.
Axios
12-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Iowa breeders on list of problem puppy mills
A dozen Iowa dog breeders are in the most recent Humane Society "Horrible Hundred" report on problem puppy mills. The big picture: Although Iowa has recently led the nation in puppy mill violations, lawmakers have improved state regulations over the last several years, says Mindi Callison, founder of Bailing Out Benji, a local nonprofit that works to end puppy mills. A big problem, however, is a federal loophole that allows dog breeders to skirt state requirements, Callison says. Context: Puppy mills are commercial breeding facilities known for trying to quickly churn out dogs, sometimes in poor conditions. Businesses included on the Horrible Hundred list were accused of such violations as cramped conditions and injured and sickly dogs that did not receive vet care. State of play: The 2025 Horrible Hundred report lists 12 Iowa breeders. For comparison, Kansas had four and Minnesota had one. Yes, but: In Iowa, requirements for licensing breeders are stricter than in some other states, potentially making violations seem more severe, Callison says. Iowa requires breeders to obtain a state license if they have four or more breeding females. Indiana requires a license only if a breeder has 20 females, Callison says. Texas, which had only seven breeders in the 2025 report, previously required breeders to have a license if they had 11 females, but that changed to five in 2024. The state could see more violations because more Iowa breeders need licenses. State of play: Iowa has a USDA loophole that is causing problems, Callison says. In 2020, Iowa set new rules outlining minimum standards of care for state-licensed breeders. But USDA-licensed breeders are exempt, per Iowa Capital Dispatch (ICD). Federally licensed breeders typically sell animals over state lines or work with third-party companies to sell their dogs, such as a pet store. There are "stark" differences between Iowa and USDA rules, per ICD. For example, Iowa requires breeders to remove dogs from their cages at least twice in a 24-hour period for exercise. The USDA does not. Zoom in: Steve Kruse, a USDA-licensed dog breeder in West Point, this year made the Horrible Hundred list for the eighth time, according to the 2025 report. Federal inspectors have cited Kruse for numerous violations, and the USDA suspended his license for 21 days in 2015 after the agency said he threw a bag containing two dead puppies at an inspector, according to ICD. An animal rights group filed a lawsuit against the USDA last year alleging the agency violated the Animal Welfare Act by automatically renewing Kruse's license, despite repeated offenses, per ICD. The USDA filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in February. What's next: State bills that would have closed the USDA loophole died in the last legislative session.
Forbes
05-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
French-American Winery Collaboration Taps Into Dessert Wine Market
In a strategic transatlantic partnership announced this week, Sonoma County's Jordan Vineyard & Winery and France's Château Guiraud have unveiled the 2022 Jordan Sauternes, marking Jordan's return to dessert wine production after a 40-year hiatus. The new release revives Jordan's dessert wine tradition that briefly existed in the early 1980s. The original late-harvest wine, called Rivière Russe, saw only three vintages—1982, 1983 and 1985—before production ceased due to viticultural challenges in California. "We are proud to partner with our friends at Château Guiraud on the debut of the 2022 Jordan Sauternes, marking a momentous return of our late-harvest wine after four decades," said John Jordan, second-generation owner and proprietor of Jordan Vineyard & Winery, in a press statement. The Jordan estate features an iconic château, sustainably farmed vineyards, thriving wildlife habitats and gardens that inspire Chef Jesse Mallgren's cuisine. Rather than attempting to recreate Sauternes-style wine in California, Jordan has taken the unusual approach of directly collaborating with a Premier Cru Classé estate from the French region itself. Jordan's Winemaker Maggie Kruse Jordan's head winemaker Maggie Kruse worked alongside Château Guiraud's winemaker Sandrine Garbay, who brings experience from the legendary Château d'Yquem. Kruse says the Jordan team is committed to crafting wines of elegance and balance. 'The 2022 Jordan Sauternes embodies this philosophy, offering a seamless interplay of ripe fruit, subtle sweetness and an evolving complexity that captivates with each sip,' she says. Kruse says she's inspired by the 'perfect harmony' of a shared goal of excellence. 'At Jordan, we believe great wines should not only elevate the palate but also enrich the experiences they accompany,' says Kruse. She added that this release continues a tradition of 'creating wines that are as unforgettable as the moments they help create.' The timing appears favorable for premium dessert wines. According to market research firm Grand View Research, the dessert wine segment specifically is projected to grow to $15 billion by 2033 at a CAGR of 4.5%. This growth challenges previous assumptions about sweet wine's market position. 2022 Jordan Sauternes While general industry perception suggested declining interest in sweet wines over the past decade, current data reveals a level of shifting consumer preferences, especially among younger demographics who increasingly favor unique flavor options. Jordan's established direct-to-consumer (DtC) channels may capitalize on this trend. The winery reports that their tasting experiences and food pairing programs have successfully introduced guests to unexpected wine styles in the past. Jordan has even been mentioned by Wine Searcher as a stand-out property for direct-to-consumer sales success in a range of channels, from visits to the winery to buying online. Environmental practices formed another connection point between the two producers. Château Guiraud became the first Sauternes Grand Cru Classé to receive organic certification in 2011. Their 128-hectare estate hosts more than 650 insect species among the vines—a biodiversity approach mirrored at Jordan's 1,200-acre property. Château Guiraud's Winemaker Sandrine Garbay Matthieu Gufflet, proprietor of Château Guiraud, highlights these shared values: "This collaboration is more than a meeting of winemaking traditions; it is a celebration of the shared values that define both of our wineries on opposite sides of the world." Organic since 2011, Château Guiraud has championed biodiversity since 1996. The property features an ecosystem-focused approach, including hedgerows attracting wildlife, cover crops and 145 Sémillon and Sauvignon clones, according to the team. Priced at $49 for a 375ml bottle, the Jordan Sauternes positions itself in the premium segment while remaining more accessible than many classified Sauternes from France, which typically retail between $75–200 per half-bottle. The 2022 vintage, crafted using traditional Sauternes methods, blends 65% Sémillon and 35% Sauvignon Blanc. Hand-harvested in successive passes and aged 18 months in oak, the bottle is crafted using methods traditional to Premier Grand Cru Sauternes under the historic 1855 Bordeaux Classification. 'We are truly honored to partner with the iconic Jordan Vineyard & Winery as we continue to expand our legacy as a premier Sauternes producer,' notes Gufflet of this collaborative dessert wine. 'Together, we have crafted a modern expression of Sauternes that strikes the perfect balance of richness and elegance, while paying homage to the storied history and distinctive terroir of our estate.' The release is available May 1, 2025, at $49 per 375ml bottle exclusively through Jordan Estate and online at with shipping limited to California, Florida, Minnesota, Oregon, South Carolina and Virginia.
