Lawrence, Steve, Jerry, and Cynthia Lohr.

A family’s dedication to vision, legacy, and community

—If not for an elite group of visionaries half a century ago, Paso Robles may never have become the universally recognized wine region it is today. Early luminaries like Gary Eberle, Justin Baldwin, and Jerry Lohr had a passion and the vision that the Paso Robles area could produce world-class grapes and wine. Today, that dream is a reality.

At J. Lohr, the original vision of founder Jerry Lohr is now being carried on by his three children, Steve, Cynthia, and Lawrence. J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines is a remarkable family business, and a visit here is more than just a tour and a tasting— it’s an experience not to be missed. J. Lohr is about more than just producing fine wines. It’s about family, legacy, heritage, community, and genuine passion and respect for the earth.

During my wife’s and my recent visit to J. Lohr, our host and wine educator, Christine Williams, artfully wove the history of the Lohr family, including Jerry Lohr’s vision and background, his accomplishments, and the road the family is traveling on today. Christine’s passion and knowledge about the company were evident. And that she felt proud to be an integral part of this family operation was certainly apparent.

Well-deserved accolades

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, this internationally acclaimed company remains a family-run operation in every sense of the word. Jerry and three children are engaged in every aspect of the business. Nothing gets finalized without a Lohr family member signing off on it.

The dedication and commitment to producing excellent wine from the ground up have paid off in personal satisfaction and professional achievements. J. Lohr, a Certified California Sustainable Vineyard and Winery, has earned several winery of the year awards, and has been among other leading vineyards and wineries in attaining important designations for sustainability.

In 2022 and 2023, J. Lohr was named to Wine & Spirits Magazine’s worldwide Top 100 Wineries.

The family continues to support breast cancer research through J. Lohr Carol’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. This special cabernet was created to honor Carol Lohr, who passed away from breast cancer. A portion of the proceeds is donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.®

Where wine grows in the vineyard

No matter where you purchase a bottle of J. Lohr wine, you may be assured that every bottle produced follows a philosophical commitment.

Jerry Lohr’s philosophy has been that the business was to be growers primarily, producing the best grapes possible, and then producing the best wine, reflective of the terroir. As such, the wines are made from their family vineyards, located in Napa Valley’s St. Helena, Monterey’s Arroyo Seco, and five different sub-AVAs in Paso Robles. This allows them direct control over the entire process, including a commitment to control and follow sustainable growing practices. From these grapes come elegant wines, reflective of locations that are as different from each other as night and day. The grapes undergo minimal intervention, letting them speak from the soil.

Choose your tasting experience

Wine tasting today is different from 20 or 30 years ago. There is a focus on history, terroir, learning about wine, and what’s behind what is in the glass. It’s a fun experience, educational, and tasting at this winery may become an event that creates lasting memories.

You may be familiar with the J. Lohr label, which is often seen on retail shelves. What you may not know is the number of J. Lohr wines that are small production (a few hundred cases), artisanal, and dedicated to highlighting specific vineyard blocks, blends, and terroir. These elegant and exclusive wines are available at the winery, through the wine club, or online.

When you participate in the wine tasting experience at J. Lohr, you get to choose from different tastings, such as:

• The Seasonal Tasting: Featuring winery-exclusive small-lot wines, both red and white.
• Lohr Legacy Tasting: Featuring three Cuvées, an homage to Bordeaux, presenting Grand Cru wines of Pomerol (*POM), St. Emilion (*St. E), and Pauillac (*PAU).
• Lohr Paso Robles Vineyard to Vintage-A Production Tour: A sneak peek into behind-the-scenes sustainable winemaking. Including the demonstration vineyard, crush pad, fermentation and barrel room, with barrel tastings.

These are just a few of the wine tasting experiences at J. Lohr. Be sure to add the J. Lohr Paso Robles Wine Center to your list and enjoy the magic of the J. Lohr family legacy.

The J. Lohr Paso Robles Wine Center is located at 6169 Airport Road in Paso Robles. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, with last reserved seating at 3 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Closed major holidays. For reservations and more information, visit jlohr.com, or call (805) 239-8900.

—Don Sonderling

(Don Sonderling is a freelance writer covering the unique lifestyle cultures of wine, food, adventure, and hospitality. He may be reached at: donsonderling@gmail.com.)