Founder Jerry Lohr pioneered the growing of cool climate whites in the Arroyo Seco region of Monterey County, with his first vintage in 1974. He later applied his vision and expertise to producing red wines, especiallyCabernet Sauvignon, in Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County in the 1980s.Over the decades J. Lohr has continued to grow its vineyard holdings, planting varietals to match the new locations, and expanding the ranges it makes, to not only stake leadership amongst producers on California’s Central Coast, but also as one of the largest premium wine brands in the U.S. Celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2024, J. Lohr remains a family-run business, with three of Jerry’s children in day-to-day leadership roles. J. Lohr’s state-of-the-art wineries, small-lot capabilities, and commitment to sustainability allow for differentiation and artistry, as well as consistent quality.In a 2004 interview with Decanter magazine, Jerry Lohr said, “Growing grapes is not rocket science. Making good wine from them is.” He should know. A Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and graduate from Stanford Graduate School of Business, Jerry spent four years as an Air Force captain in the 1960s doing research at NASA’s Ames Research Center.However, his ancestors were farmers who migrated from Scandinavia to South Dakota in the Midwest in the 1800s, so he also had a strong attachment to the land and agriculture. His interest in wine began as a child, when wine was mentioned at Sunday Mass in his Catholic church and he asked his father why they didn’t plant grapes and make wine themselves, and was told “it’s too cold.” In the early 1970s, he and a friend started a successful custom-built home development business, and about the same time he also started a wine business. He purchased 113 hectares of land in Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, an emerging wine region at the time, and planted grapes in 1972, drawing on the agricultural knowledge he had acquired on his family’s farm and the CODE12974We were approached about handling J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines (hereafter J. Lohr) in early 2024. After checking the quality of the wines and looking at the outstanding value they offered, we decided to handle this producer with a very different profile from the wineries we currently work with. Today, 50 years after its founding, J. Lohr owns over 1,700 hectares of vineyards in Monterey and Paso Robles, as well as 14 hectares in Napa. With its own wineries for making white and red wines, they offer a rich and diverse selection of wines. Despite its enormous size, and handling all steps from ‘soil-to-bottle’ in-house, it is family-owned and operated. To get a fuller picture, we introduce founder, Jerry Lohr and J. Lohr. 〈Dion Lenting (Kiwi Copy) & Village Cellars〉J. Lohr Arroyo Vista Chardonnay 2022Origin: Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, CaliforniaVarietal: Chardonnay 100% Alc.14.4％RRP ￥5,400The bright acid and supple texture showcase the cool climate. Fermented and aged on lees for 14 months in French oak (45% new).95pts, Platinum, & “Best Chardonnay”, San Diego Int’l Wine & Spirits Challenge 2024CODE12967J. Lohr Los Osos Merlot 2021Origin: Paso Robles, CaliforniaVarietals: Merlot 89%, Malbec 7%, Cabernet Franc 4% Alc.14.1％・・・business administration he studied in college. However, the cool climate of Arroyo Seco made it difficult to grow his favourite Cabernet Sauvignon, and in the 1980s, he began looking for a suitable site with Bordeaux-like conditions and saw the potential for Bordeaux red wine varieties in Paso Robles.Jerry also understood the importance of university and laboratory research and worked closely with the American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) and was involved in the creation of what is now the National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA).The Arroyo Seco AVA in Monterey has one of California’s longest growing seasons. Brisk winds and fog from nearby Monterey Bay lower daytime temperatures, which together with low rainfall in autumn, promotes slow, gentle ripening. The well-drained sandy loam soils, strewn with alluvial stones produce grapes with fruit intensity and balancing acidity. In 1972, J. Lohr planted 11 varieties, including red varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, but by the late 1970s, they had grafted more than 70% of the original plantings and narrowed it down to four varieties: Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, and Valdiguie (later identified). Since then, Arroyo Seco has become known for its Chardonnay and Riesling, as exemplified by J. Lohr’s Chardonnay.J. Lohr has over 560 hectares of vineyards in Arroyo Seco AVA and 17 hectares in the adjacent Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, nearly 90 per cent in Chardonnay, with smaller plantings of Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Valdiguie, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc. The Chardonnays include ten different clones and numerous rootstock combinations, each carefully matched to its vineyard site. White winemaker Kristen Barnhisel leads a state-of-the-art winery in Greenfield completed in 2014. It is centrally located in the Arroyo Seco vineyards, ensuring total quality control from soil to bottle.The first J. Lohr estate vineyards were planted in Paso Robles in 1986, and first Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon produced in 1987. Today, J. Lohr owns and farms more than 1,130 hectares of vineyards in five of the region’s eleven RRP ￥4,200Plum and blackberry fruits are nicely balanced by tannins and oak notes. Whole berry fermentation in stainless steel tanks, aged for 12 months in American oak (15% new). 90pts Wine EnthusiastCODE12973J. LohrHilltop Cabernet Sauvignon 2021Origin: Paso Robles, CaliforniaVarietals: Cabernet Sauvignon 95%, Petit Verdot 3%, Malbec 1%, Cabernet Franc 1% Alc.15.0％RRP ￥7,700One of the most famous Cabernets in Paso Robles, made from carefully selected parcels from estate vineyards. Small touches of other varietals enhance the flavour. Aged for 16 months in 225L French oak barrels (40% new). 92pts Wine & Spirits MagazineAll wines are 750ml unless otherwise specified. Prices do not include Consumption Tax.Village Cellars Wine Catalogue 2024Winter（Arroyo Seco & Paso Robles, California）Founder Jerry Lohr: A researcher who loves connecting with people and agricultureArroyo Seco AVA: cool climate whitesPaso Robles: Warm days and cool nights－6－Introducing a new producerJ. Lohr ‒ 50 years of pioneering new wine regions in California.
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