‘Heritage and authenticity are at the core of our Lohr family business’
—Founded five decades ago and still family-owned and operated, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines has established itself as one of the industry’s most respected wine brands. J. Lohr wines began in the late 1960s when Jerry Lohr launched an extensive investigation of California grape-growing regions, searching for the ideal location for his first vineyard. Raised on a South Dakota farm; Jerry’s agricultural roots armed him with an “innate sense for the relationship between climate, soil, and location.” His research and instincts led him to the Central Coast, an area just beginning to explore its potential for wine growing.
In the early 1970s, he chose Monterey County’s Arroyo Seco district for its cool, windy climate and rocky soils as ideal for chardonnay. In the 1980s, he recognized the potential of Paso Robles for growing Bordeaux varietals, especially cabernet sauvignon—given the area’s rich soils and dramatic temperature swings between warm days and cool nights. He began planting cabernet sauvignon and other red varieties in the Paso Robles region in 1986, and the production facility was opened in 1988.
Jerry Lohr’s career continues in partnership with his children and co-owners Steve, Cynthia, and Lawrence. “Heritage and authenticity are at the core of our Lohr family business – we took my father’s original vision for a turn-ofthe-century schoolhouse and brought it to the modern-day,” said Co-owner and Chief Brand Officer Cynthia Lohr. “We’ve juxtaposed the warmth of Jerry’s South Dakota childhood family home with gorgeous plum and sage decorative textures that set off the original wainscoting. We are illuminating our collectible bottlings within a topof-the-line glass wine case and seating our guests at high-top tables crafted from our barrels so that guests can enjoy their sampling overlooking our Home Ranch vineyards.”
Today, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines includes more than 1,400 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. J. Lohr farms over 2,700 acres of vineyards in Paso Robles, a region now recognized as one of the world’s best spots for cabernet sauvignon and other Bordeaux and Rhone varietals.
The winery offers six tiers of award-winning wines: J. Lohr Estates, J. Lohr Vineyard Series, J. Lohr Cuvée Series, J. Lohr Gesture (available solely to wine club members), J. Lohr Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, and J. Lohr Pure Paso Proprietary Red Wine.
Tasting experiences
Visitors are invited to experience two unique tasting experiences, by reservation, at the J. Lohr Paso Robles Wine Center. Either experience can be enjoyed in the beautiful tasting room or on the covered veranda. T he J. Lohr Seasonal Tasting offers a sampling of the winery’s very best vintages. The experience takes an hour. The tasting fee is $20, free for J. Lohr Club members.
The J. Lohr Legacy Tasting showcases the wines of the J. Lohr Cuvee Series, which includes Paso Robles-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec as seen through the prism of the classic Grand Crus of Bordeaux. Explore these three unique blends, along with complementing selections from our acclaimed Bordeaux offerings. Please plan for a one hour tasting, guided by the expert tasting room staff. The tasting fee is $40, free for J. Lohr Club members.
J. Lohr Paso Robles Wine Center is located at 6169 Airport Road, Paso Robles. Open daily, except for major holidays. Tasting reservations start at 10 a.m. with the last seating at 3 p.m. For reservations or more information visit jlohr.com or call (805) 239-8900.
—Skye Pratt
