On May 22, Prophet & Poet, the ultra-premium wine label founded by Jessica Biel, Justin and Rose Biel, Jesse Katz, and Chris and Ariel Jackson, made its official debut with an exclusive dinner at Upper Barn Vineyard in Healdsburg. High above the valley in a glass-walled barn overlooking the vineyards, the evening was brought to life in collaboration with three-Michelin-starred SingleThread.
Table Set with Intention
The group of friends, collaborators, and creatives gathered around a long, farm-draped table, its surface adorned with wildflowers and seasonal greens, hand-picked just hours earlier. “You’re going to feel her love through everything we do,” said SingleThread’s owner-chef Kyle Connaughton, referring to his wife, Katina, who had harvested every element from their nearby farm. The evening began with what the chef playfully called an “adult Easter egg hunt,” a scattering of intricate bites meant to be discovered in front of each guest.
What followed was a procession of poetic, place-driven courses: farm-grown rhubarb and edible florals, smoked Hokkaido scallop with herbed tofu, Duclair duck with black truffle, and Wagyu gohan with caramelized barley and grilled short rib. Each dish was paired with Prophet & Poet’s inaugural wines, which deepened the sensory story unfolding at the table.
A Gift, a Name, a Calling
The origins of Prophet & Poet trace back to 2019, when Jessica Biel commissioned a custom barrel of wine as a wedding gift for her brother, Justin, and his wife, Rose—crafted by longtime family friend and acclaimed winemaker Jesse Katz. The name Prophet & Poet was a tribute to the couple, Rose, a practicing shaman, and Justin, a writer, reflecting both their spiritual and creative identities.
Though the first bottle was never meant for release, the emotion behind it and the quality of the wine itself sparked a vision.
“Prophet & Poet began as a personal gift, a symbol of love and connection within our family,” said Jessica Biel. “Watching it evolve from that special moment into something we can now share with the world is incredibly meaningful, and I’m excited for others to experience the story and spirit of these wines.”
The First Vintage
The inaugural 2021 vintage includes five small-lot wines: Black Crown Cabernet Sauvignon and Mountain Sage Proprietary Red (both awarded 100 points), Mourning Cloak Proprietary Red (99 pts), and two Chardonnays—Ghost Cat and King Bird—each scoring 97 points. Crafted by Katz at Aperture Cellars in collaboration with Chris Jackson of Jackson Family Wines, the wines pull from Sonoma’s most prized vineyard sites.
With only 900 cases produced in its first vintage, the wines of Prophet & Poet are already rare and revered. But their true power lies in how they were made: not in perfection, but in creative tension.
“We don’t always agree. But when we land on a wine that gets a yes from all of us, it means something,” said Chris Jackson.
Katz echoed that sentiment: “We debated. We pushed. We started over. And the wines are stronger for it.”
As part of the evening, guests toured the vineyards with Chris Jackson, who pointed out the fog-laced elevation, mineral-rich soil, and even the Bay laurel tree that subtly infuses Ghost Cat with notes of lemon verbena. At one point, Jackson joked that even the local bear population plays a role in harvest timing—when the Cabernet grapes start disappearing, it’s time to pick.
Archetypes in the Bottle
More than just a wine label, Prophet & Poet is a sensory experience. Each bottle is named for an archetype: Ghost Cat, Mourning Cloak, Black Crown. Illustrated by artist Darren Le Gallo, a renowned artist, actor, and husband of Amy Adams, the labels resemble tarot cards —visual metaphors with stories behind them. On the back of each bottle, a “wisdom poem” is written by Rose and Justin.
“These poems came through prayer and meditation,” said Rose. “Each one is infused with love, blessings, and wisdom. The idea is that they give you something to think about and talk about. They’re living wisdom poems, open to interpretation.”
“Everyone’s an artist in their own right in this project,” said Katz. “And the biggest thing for us was, how do we create something that lives beyond us?”
With only 900 cases produced, Prophet & Poet is intentionally limited—crafted not for mass distribution, but for collectors and connoisseurs who value wine as both an experience and a work of art.
And as the sun dipped behind the mountains and guests raised their glasses, one thing was clear: Prophet & Poet isn’t just a label. It’s a legacy in the making.