Tag: grapes

Thomas Jefferson said, "Good wine is a necessity of life for me," and Jay Corley, founder of Monticello Vineyards, wholeheartedly agrees. Jay made his foray into the industry by selling grapes to wineries, eventually making the move from grape grower to winery owner and vintner. Adamant about keeping Monticello Vineyards a family-owned and -operated venture, Jay’s sons—Kevin, Chris, Stephen, and Kent Corley—are at the helm. Kevin is winegrower and president, Chris is the winemaker, Stephen is responsible for sales and hospitality, and Kent handles administration.

To fully appreciate the wines of Edna Valley Vineyard in San Luis Obispo, California, one must have an appreciation for the valley where they begin. Millions of years ago, this east-west oriented valley was part of what is now the pacific ocean. Bordered in three directions by mountains and hills (the Santa Lucia Mountains to the northeast, low rolling hills to the southeast, and the San Luis range to the southwest), and Los Osos Valley to the north, it forms an ideal pocket for grape growing. A gap exists in the perfect place—where Los Osos Valley meets the ocean in Morro Bay, providing a natural wide-mouth funnel of cool marine air.