Vineyards
A Central Figure of the Central Coast: J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
Founder Jerry Lohr is hailed as the true winemaking pioneer of the Monterey and Paso Robles regions
Jul. 2021Written by Kyle TrompeterPhotos provided by J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
In the early 1970s, the California Central Coast did not have the reputation as a prime winegrowing region that it does today. Monterey and Paso Robles, now revered pieces of real estate, had yet to become household names among wine enthusiasts.
In 1972, Jerry Lohr changed everything and single-handedly put the Central Coast on the winemaking map.
Starting in the late 1960s, the farmer from South Dakota began searching for an ideal location for his first vineyard, which had long been a passion project he wanted to explore. His deep agricultural pedigree gave him the unique skillset to produce wine. His search eventually took him to the uncharted winemaking territory of the Central Coast, where the cool climate yielded tremendous potential for growing high-quality wines. Jerry arrived in Monterey County, put some vines in the ground, and the rest is history.
These days, Jerry, now in his 80s, has brought his kids into the fold who now steer the J. Lohr story forward so the family business connects with a new generation of consumers.
J. Lohr is an iconic wine brand, built by the first family of Central Coast winemaking, and if you flip through the slides, you’ll see why in the wine world, the J. Lohr name has become synonymous with excellence.
More Stories Like This
![glass of Rémy Martin on a bartop](../assets/images/articles/2021/remy/remy-martin--7--vsop-on-bartop--660.jpg)
Vineyards
The House of Rémy Martin: 300 Years of Excellence
![Woodford Reserve distillery on a foggy morning surrounded by trees](../assets/images/articles/2021/woodford/woodford-reserve--01--mist-enveloping-distillery--900.jpg)
Distilleries