About This Wine

"This may be the best price to value wine I have ever tasted. It's hard to imagine that a wine that spent two years in barrels then another year in bottle could sell for this price. Ultra rich and concentrated, with layers of fig, citrus and tangerine flavors that are shaded by toasty oak, filling out the flavor profile and ending with a complex marshmallow edge. Drink now through 2011". CPM 05/2008

About The Wine Maker John Kerr

Born to a career navy officer, John spent his childhood moving around the country. In 1969 John was drafted into the Army and spent two years in Vietnam as a helicopter weapons specialist and door gunner. He began his winemaking career in 1972 shortly after returning home as a decorated veteran. At Brookside Winery in Ventura, California John began developing his love for grapes.

In 1980 John moved to Monterey County and began seriously pursuing a winemaking career. He worked at Chalone and Jekel wineries before spending four years at Ventana Vineyards and Winery where he was in charge of production.

In 1984 he returned to Santa Barbara County where he became an independent consulting winemaker, assisting Babcock Winery in their first crush, producing seven varietals that were all awarded gold medals in competitions. He assisted Brander and Houtz wineries, and was the winemaker at Houtz for four years. Working at several wineries at once, John also began working for Byron Winery in 1986. 1986 is the year of the first J. Kerr Wines crush. Concentrating on Chardonnay, which is the mainstay of J.Kerr Wines, John began making reds in 1988 with highly acclaimed Syrah wines. In 1990 Byron became an R.J. Mondovi subsidiary and John took the position of assistant winemaker but continued to nurture his own label J Kerr Wines. Expanding from Chardonnay, John began his ground breaking work on Pinot Noir in 1991 in Santa Barbara. In 1995 John went to work for the Firestone family as the winemaker at Carey Cellars, working Curtis cellars and William Foley as well. Now in failing health, John continues his work with veterans affairs. We may be tasting the last of John’s works with his Calafornio but his work will remain legendary.