Women Who Influence the Wine World: J. Lohr's Anji Perry, Kristen Barnhisel, and Cynthia Lohr

"At J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, the standards for exceptional quality begin in select estate vineyards, where Viticulturist/Vineyard Research Director Anji Perry carefully analyzes soils to determine ideal sites to nurture specific varieties. A true woman of the earth, Perry received her degree in soil science over two decades ago before returning to Cal Poly to study viticulture. Her tracks then led her to J. Lohr. Perry’s oversight of irrigation and crop load management, and collaboration with vineyard managers and the winemaking team, set the foundation for wines that reflect a true sense of place and maintain the highest sustainability principles in J. Lohr’s wineries and vineyards.

Influenced by her microbiologist mother and home-winemaker father, Winemaker, White Wines, Kristen Barnhisel’s journey to wine began in the mid-’90s as the first American woman to work the harvest at Ruffino Winery in Tuscany after earning her degree in Italian literature. Returning to the States to pursue her masters in food science/enology, Barnhisel honed her craft to create wines with bright aromas and layers of lush fruit, balanced with lively acidity. To achieve J. Lohr’s nuanced flavors, Barnhisel experiments with acacia and oak barrels, stainless steel and non traditional vessels, and employs time-tested enological practices. Her posts with Jordan, Belvedere, Inglenook and Handley Cellars have earned her the respect of her peers as past president of American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) and the esteem of her J. Lohr colleagues since 2015.

Armed with a successful career in strategic brand marketing with Yahoo!, Amazon’s Alexa Internet and others, co-owner and Chief Brand Officer Cynthia Lohr returned to J. Lohr in 2001. While her path also steered her toward education and social services, Lohr held steadfast to her love of building beloved consumer brands that reflect core values and holistic business practices, which she embodies as a back-end strategist and front-end spokesperson in the family leadership she shares with Steve and Lawrence, and father, founder Jerry Lohr. Recognized for her impact in gender equity, regional wine education and women’s health, Lohr’s tandem focus on philanthropy, business and family has placed her among Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 2021 Top 100 Women of Influence."