Browse the Lohr family’s fifty year journey as leaders and innovators

Steve, Carol, Lawrence, and Cynthia Lohr at the shade house in Greenfield.

The FIrst 280 acres of J. Lohr’s estate vineyards are planted in Monterey’s Arroyo Seco region.

The J. Lohr San Jose Wine Center opens and produces its first wine, a Petite Sirah.

Jerry surveying early white wine fermentations.

Anticipating the potential of Monterey as a winegrowing region, Jerry Lohr is a founding member of Monterey Winegrowers Council.

J. Lohr wines achieve national distribution

Arroyo Seco is approved as an AVA within Monterey County

J. Lohr produces its first Napa Valley vintage of Carol’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, named for Jerry’s late wife and mother to Steve, Cynthia and Lawrence Lohr.

Jeff Meier joins J. Lohr as a member of the harvest team. For 37 vintages, he helps lead J. Lohr as winemaker, company president, and COO. He retired in 2021.

ARIEL Vineyards, a line of wines dealcoholized through reverse osmosis, is launched

J. Lohr’s first estate vineyards in Paso Robles are planted. J. Lohr Paso Robles winery is completed. International sales begin

The first Riverstone Chardonnay is produced, marking the debut of the J. Lohr Estates tier of wines.

The first Riverstone Chardonnay is produced, marking the debut of the J. Lohr Estates tier of wines.

J. Lohr produces its first vintage of Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles

The first J. Lohr Vineyard Series wines are released: Arroyo Vista Chardonnay and Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon. Vineyard Series highlights small-lot winemaking from special growing sites.

The J. Lohr Paso Robles Wine Center opens to the public, with sweeping views of J. Lohr’s home ranch vineyards.

Lawrence T. Lohr rejoins the family business, working in production. In 2020 he becomes COO of J. Lohr Vineyards, Inc. and in 2024 is named the company’s President & COO. He serves on the board of directors for Wine Institute, is a past board member of the Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association, and is a company co-owner.

Cynthia Lohr rejoins the family business as director of communications. In 2009 she is named vice president of marketing; today she is J. Lohr’s Chief Brand Officer and a co-owner. Cynthia's numerous leadership posts address social equity issues and building healthy, sustainable communities.

The J. Lohr Cuvée Series launches, with three distinct “Bordeaux-Inspired Blends with a Paso Robles Sense of Place.”

Steve Lohr rejoins the family business as vice president, planning and development. In 2016 and 2017 he served as Chairman of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance and Wine Institute. Today, Steve is the company’s President & CEO and a co-owner.

Brenden Wood joins J. Lohr as lab technician, becoming assistant winemaker in 2010 and red winemaker in 2019.

Steve Peck joins J. Lohr as red winemaker in Paso Robles. In 2018 he is named director of winemaking. Today, Steve is the company’s vice president, winemaking.

J. Lohr launches Gesture, limited release Rhône-style wines available to wine club members and visitors to the wine centers in San Jose and Paso Robles.

J. Lohr unveils the largest winery solar tracking array in North America, covering three acres in Paso Robles.

J. Lohr’s Touching Lives campaign begins. Partnering with National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.®, the winery helps fund mammograms for women in need through sales of Carol’s Vineyard wines. In 2023, the program surpassed $1 million in donations.

J. Lohr is among the first 17 vineyards and wineries in the state to earn the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing designation from the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.

J. Lohr is named the 2010 American Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

J. Lohr helps design and fund the building of the UC Davis Robert Mondavi Institute for Food & Wine Science, including the J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines Fermentation Room and the J. Lohr Wine Sensory Lab.

Jerry Lohr receives two milestone awards in the same year:  The Merit Award from the American Society for Enology and Viticulture, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the California Association of Winegrape Growers.

Cynthia Lohr is instrumental in helping to launch the Paso Robles CAB Collective, as co-founder and later, board vice president.

J. Lohr is named Winery of the Year by Tasting Panel Magazine.

Phase One of building development is completed and the first grapes are brought into J. Lohr’s new state-of-the-art winery in Greenfield.

Kristen Barnhisel joins J. Lohr as winemaker for all white wines. In 2023, Kristen was named a finalist for "Winemaker of the Year" by Wine Enthusiast.

The Greenfield winery solar initiative is completed. Today, it powers nearly 100% of this location’s electrical needs.

Jerry Lohr is named an American Wine Legend by Wine Enthusiast Magazine; this honor has only been awarded six times since 2000.

Ian Herdman rejoins J. Lohr as plant manager. In 2022, he is promoted to vice president, production.

J. Lohr Signature Cabernet Sauvignon is released in honor of Jerry Lohr’s 80th birthday.

The popular J. Lohr Estates tier receives a packaging refresh.

J. Lohr’s limited-release Vineyard Series tier is relaunched nationally with dramatic, upscale packaging. Single vineyard, small-lot winery-exclusive wines are added to the tier.

J. Lohr Pure Paso® Proprietary Red Wine is released - a historic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah from Paso Robles.

J. Lohr receives the Green Medal Leader Award.  is is the California wine industry’s highest honor for sustainability.

J. Lohr Estates Riverstone Chardonnay becomes the first wine in the portfolio to earn the Certified California Sustainable seal on its label. Today, almost all J. Lohr wines carry the seal.

With a focused eye towards prudent growth, J. Lohr is named the #1 Premium-Plus Wine Brand, by case volume, by Shanken Communications.

Dedication of the JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine & Viticulture, as well as the Lohr Family Winery, at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

J. Lohr Monterey Roots is launched. J. Lohr Bay Mist White Riesling and J. Lohr Wildflower Valdiguié, with dramatic new packaging honoring the Lohr family’s roots in Monterey County and commitment to sustainability, are included in the tier.

In support of its vertical integration, J. Lohr completes a new bottle-ready tank farm, two new barrel rooms, a new wastewater recycling system, and a remodeled tasting room at its Paso Robles winery.

J. Lohr named to global “Top 100 Wineries” list for second year in a row.

A fresh look for a classic Chardonnay. J. Lohr Estates Riverstone Chardonnay debuts new package.

The Lohr family and J. Lohr team celebrate 50 Years of Family Winegrowing with anniversary events and philanthropic giving campaigns in all fifty states.