Jerry Lohr, founder of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, came to Monterey County, California, in the late 1960s to look for the perfect site for his first vineyards. Now crafting wines from over 3,700 acres of estate vineyards divided between Monterey County, Paso Robles, and the Napa Valley, J. Lohr has created an acclaimed portfolio of wines recognized for their vibrant fruit character. J. Lohr has also established wine centers in both San Jose and Paso Robles—two ideal destinations for lovers of great California wine.
Founded in 1974, the J. Lohr San Jose Wine Center is adjacent to the San Jose winery, where white wines are produced and many J. Lohr wines are bottled. Located near the heart of downtown San Jose in the charming, historical Rose Garden neighborhood, the J. Lohr San Jose Wine Center includes an airy tasting room that is both intimate and elegant. A destination for visitors and locals alike, J. Lohr’s winery in San Jose is the only major urban winery in the greater Bay Area. The J. Lohr San Jose Wine Center is also home to the J. Lohr Vineyard Room, a private event space with a viewing window into the winery used for special gatherings, meetings, private tastings, and wine-paired dinners, as well as fun and informative wine education symposiums and food pairing seminars. For J. Lohr Wine Club members, the center also offers a year-round calendar of club-exclusive events, including new release nights.
Down the coast a few hundred miles, the J. Lohr Paso Robles Winery was built in 1988 and is dedicated to the production of red wines. The J. Lohr Paso Robles Wine Center was built alongside the winery in 2001. It houses a second tasting room and elegant event facilities, with a wraparound veranda looking out onto J. Lohr’s stunning home ranch vineyards. Conveniently located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, the J. Lohr Paso Robles Wine Center is an important part of the thriving Paso Robles winemaking community and hosts meetings, seminars, and conferences that engage the community at large. In keeping with J. Lohr’s commitment to the environment, the Paso Robles facility is also home to a state-of-the-art, three-acre solar tracking system—the largest of any winery in North America—that provides up to 85 percent of the annual power used at the J. Lohr Paso Robles Wine Center, and the winery facilities.
At the heart of the J. Lohr experience are the winery’s rich and flavorful wines, available in complimentary tastings offered daily at both wine centers. Reflecting the diversity of its estate vineyards, J. Lohr offers four tiers of award-winning wines: the J. Lohr Cuvée Series, wines inspired by the classic Bordeaux blends but crafted to embody the power and complexity of great Paso Robles winegrowing; the J. Lohr Vineyard Series, limited-production wines highlighting the terroir of the most esteemed vineyard parcels; J. Lohr Estates, appealing, high-quality wines crafted using estate fruit; and, J. Lohr Gesture, a series of Rhône-inspired wines and select varietals available exclusively in the wine centers and online. In addition to its signature brands, J. Lohr also produces vibrant Central Coast wines under the Cypress Vineyards label. For those interested, J. Lohr offers two wine clubs: the J. Lohr Barrel Society and the Vineyards Select Society. There is no fee to join either wine club, and in addition to substantial discounts on wines, membership includes invitations to special events at the J. Lohr Wine Centers.
What to Buy Wines
’12 Flume Crossing Sauvignon Blanc – $14
Citrus, melon, tropical fruit, acacia wood
’11 Arroyo Vista Chardonnay – $25
Baked apple, d’Anjou pear, lime
’11 Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir – $17
Cherry preserves, violets, crème brûlée
’11 Highlands Bench Pinot Noir – $35
Wild strawberry, espresso, sandalwood
’10 Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon – $35
Blueberry, black plum, hazelnut, chocolate
Touring & Tasting is a media company that produces a wine and travel magazine and is also partner in the Hitched Wine Club.
Steve Cooper is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Hitched. You can follow him on Twitter at @hitchedmedia.
