Brenden Wood

Brenden Wood has been an integral part of the J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines winemaking team since 2004 and today, working alongside VP, Winemaking Steve Peck, oversees all red wine production. In this role, Brenden combines his understanding of the technical aspects of great winemaking with an appreciation for the artistry of the blend.

After growing up in the Bay Area, Brenden attended Cal Poly, where he earned a degree in biochemistry in 1999. During university, Brenden also cultivated an interest in wine. Combining his science background and his newfound appreciation for the great things that can be achieved with a little fermentation, Brenden was soon brewing his own beer and making his own small lots of wine.

As his passion for wine grew, Brenden began traveling more, exploring wine regions throughout France and Italy. He also worked harvests at two small Paso Robles wineries, gaining valuable practical winemaking experience. In 2004, Brenden joined J. Lohr as a lab technician, where he ran day-to-day quality control analysis, while also helping to develop several leading-edge tools for color and tannin analysis. In 2007, Brenden was promoted to enologist. From 2010 to 2019, Brenden held the title of assistant winemaker, working closely with Steve Peck to further enhance quality in every aspect of the J. Lohr portfolio. In 2019, Brenden took on his current title of J. Lohr red winemaker.

Though Brenden has a deep foundation in the technical side of winemaking, he also believes in applying those skills creatively in order to make great wine. Based in Paso Robles, Brenden employs a hands-on, small lot approach, even for the winery’s largest volume releases. In a given vintage, Brenden oversees as many as 400 individual fermentations.
Brenden lives with his wife, Carrie, and their three children in the town of Templeton. Brenden enjoys the outdoors and especially loves backpacking, running, cycling, and gardening.