Four decades ago, the California Central Coast had yet to emerge as one of North America's world-class winegrowing regions. With little history or viticultural precedent, planting on the Central Coast was a gamble. One of an early handful of pioneers, Jerry Lohr was among the first to realize the vast, untapped potential of this now-acclaimed region with the establishment of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines.
In the late 1960s, Jerry began an extensive investigation of California grape growing regions while searching for the ideal location for a vineyard. Raised on a South Dakota farm, his agricultural roots armed him with an innate sense for the intricacies of climate, soil quality and location. His research and instincts led him to the Central Coast, a unique location with one of the longest growing seasons in all of California. Selecting the Arroyo Seco appellation of Monterey County for his first vineyard, Jerry planted his original 280 acres of winegrapes in 1972 and 1973, and unveiled his San Jose winery in 1974.
Borrowing a lesson from the French--that great Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon excel in very different growing conditions--Jerry began planting Cabernet Sauvignon and other red varieties in San Luis Obispo County's little-known Paso Robles region in 1986. With the hands-on devotion of an artisan farmer, Jerry tended to the vines while diligently working toward the creation and development of an adjacent winery and barreling facility, which was completed in 1988.
Today, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines includes more than 1,300 acres of cool-climate estate vineyards in the Arroyo Seco and Santa Lucia Highlands regions of Monterey County, with an emphasis on Chardonnay, Riesling, Valdiguié and Pinot Noir, over 2,300 acres in Paso Robles dedicated to Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah, Petite Sirah and other red varieties, and 33 acres in Napa Valley, highlighting Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc. From this rich and diverse palette of sustainably farmed estate fruit, J. Lohr crafts wines showcasing bold, concentrated flavors and a vibrant sense of place. The winery offers four tiers of award-winning wines – J. Lohr Estates, J. Lohr Vineyard Series, J. Lohr Cuvée Series and J. Lohr Gesture, limited-release wines available solely to tasting room visitors, wine club members and online.
J. Lohr benefits from the longevity of its talented management team and the passion of a second generation of the Lohr family--key factors that make J. Lohr one of the few family-owned, estate-focused wineries of its size, and one of the last substantial independents. Though it is operated with the loving care of a boutique winery, J. Lohr welcomes guests at two wine centers, one in San Jose and another in Paso Robles.
Our Mission J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines is dedicated to producing flavorful wines that are the finest examples of quality and flavor from our given appellations. We are committed to honesty, excellence and service, with a respect for our employees, suppliers, customers, and the long-term health of our company and the environment.
Our Vision After four decades of winegrowing and winemaking, we at J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines are building upon a legacy of superior-quality, vineyard-driven wines with a focus on Cabernet, Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinot Noir in Monterey, Paso Robles, and St. Helena. A continual investment in vineyards, state-of-the-art equipment, facilities, barrel programs and artisanal winemaking techniques, and an unwavering dedication to our family of employees and industry relationships, position J. Lohr to prosper and thrive for years to come.
Jerry Lohr Since 1972, Jerry Lohr has pioneered premium winegrowing on California's Central Coast. In doing so, he has made J. Lohr one of America's most renowned wineries, and helped to establish Monterey County and Paso Robles as two of the world's great winegrowing regions. In addition to being a tireless advocate for the Central Coast, Jerry works on behalf of the entire industry. He served as the chair of Wine Institute, and was a co-founder Wine Vision and the National Grape and Wine Initiative. As J. Lohr's founder, Jerry remains actively involved and manages the company's extensive estate vineyard holdings in Paso Robles, Monterey County's Arroyo Seco and Santa Lucia Highlands appellations, and St. Helena in the Napa Valley.
Our People J. Lohr is also guided by the acumen and commitment of a second generation of the Lohr family. CEO and Chairman Steve Lohr is responsible for the overall management and strategic planning of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines. Cynthia Lohr spearheads corporate and product visibility efforts as vice president of marketing, and Lawrence Lohr advocates for wine appreciation as director of wine education. Together, Steve, Cynthia and Lawrence have joined Jerry to ensure family involvement in the winery (and the involvement of J. Lohr's extended employee family) for generations to come.
Working alongside the Lohr family is one of the most experienced and dedicated teams in the wine industry. This talented team of individuals, many of whom have been with J. Lohr for decades, includes President, COO and Director of Winemaking Jeff Meier, who has been with J. Lohr for more than 30 years, creating wines that are the artistic expression of the family's vision. Rounding out Jeff's skilled winemaking team is Red Winemaker Steve Peck. Together, their collective technical knowledge of winemaking practices and viticulture and fermentation science define a breadth of know-how and passion that is unrivaled in the industry.
Complementing their efforts is Paso Robles Vineyard Manager Steve Carter, who has been with J. Lohr since 1989, and Arroyo Seco Vineyard Manager Agapito Vasquez (1989). This longevity in leadership and expertise ensures the continuity of flavors, wine quality and long-standing industry relationships, which have become hallmarks of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines.
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California » San Luis Obispo County
“The 2017 J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon is dark and dense in color to the rim of the glass. Layered aromas of black
10bCalifornia » Arroyo Seco
Wine Enthusiast 90 WE TOP 100 2019 Rank 37 Best Buys This wine starts with plush aromas of yellow melon, plumeria, wild lime sorbet and a hint of
101eCalifornia » Arroyo Seco
"The J. Lohr Estates Riverstone Chardonnay has a youthful, brassy yellow color with moderate depth. The aromas are of nectarine, peach pie and apple--combined
“Plush aromas of dark strawberry, blueberry and lilacs make for a very full nose on this extremely well-priced bottling, which is available across the country.
102aCalifornia » Paso Robles
" J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon is red-purple in color with a bright hue at release. Fruit aromas are black cherry, plum and blueberry
“Intriguing, deep and dark on the nose, this bottling offers aromas of root beer, black-cherry sauce and vanilla. Framed by upright yet polished tannins on
“Varietal aromas of black cherry, blueberry, anise and black tea are lifted by barrel aging on lees in a 60/40 blend of American and French
88fCalifornia » Paso Robles
“The 2017 J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon is dark and dense in color to the rim of the glass. Layered aromas of black
“2016 Hilltop Cabernet shows dark fruit, chocolate, graphite and anise on the nose. The palate is dense and soft at once with layers of mineral,
2aCalifornia » Monterey County
"The 2014 Falcon's Perch Pinot Noir delivers effusive strawberry and sage varietal aromas, and is lifted by a vanilla spice oak signature. Plump red fruit
60aCalifornia » Monterey County
“The 2017 J. Lohr Estates Bay Mist White Riesling is pale straw in color, offering aromas of paperwhites, daffodil, lemongrass, pear, ripe apple, and lychee.
“The 2014 vintage of J. Lohr Carol’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon expresses this classic valley floor site in an approachable way. Savory fruit elements wrapped in
This Pinot Noir is darkly colored with layered aromatics of black cherry, anise and camphor. The attack is subtle, while dense and graceful at once.
88fCalifornia » Arroyo Seco
"This elegant Chardonnay has bright hues of yellow straw. Rich aromas of pear, apple and lemon custard combine with notes of roasted hazelnut, vanilla and
“Baked apple, lime pith, butter-poached pear and almonds show on the nose of this ripe bottling. There is a tightly wound texture to the palate,
“The 2015 J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon is dark in color with a bright hue. Layered aromas of cassis and black cherry are
Wine Enthusiast 89 “Plush aromas of dark strawberry, blueberry and lilacs make for a very full nose on this extremely well-priced bottling, which is available across
" The vibrant J. Lohr Estates Wildflower Valdiguié is red-purple in color with profuse fresh fruit aromas of cherry, raspberry and red currant. The
"The 2012 J. Lohr Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon is darkly-colored with a red-purple hue. Varietal aromas of violet and ripe black plum are complemented by hazelnut,
Wine Enthusiast 92 "Good results almost always occur when J. Lohr, most of whose red wines come from Paso Robles, uses Cabernet Sauvignon from this Napa
"Varietal aromas of black tea and blueberry are lifted by barrel aging on the lees in a mix of American and French oak barrels. This
"The 2015 Riverstone Chardonnay exhibits youthful hues of light to medium straw. The enticing aromas are reminiscent of peaches, meyer lemon, yellow floral, baking spices,
"The 2012 J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon is red-purple in color with a bright hue at release. Fruit aromas are black cherry, plum and
"This elegant Chardonnay has an attractive pale straw- yellow color. The aromas are of pear, apple and stone fruits, combined with a perfumed roasted hazelnut
"The vibrant J. Lohr Estates Wildflower Valdiguié is red-purple in color with profuse fresh fruit aromas of cherry, raspberry and red currant. The complexion