JC Cellars, Oakland

Owner Jeff Cohn has always been interested in the world of wine, but it wasn't until he tasted a Chateauneuf-du-Pape that the cosmos unfurled before him. "To go from tasting only single varietals to a blend really opened my eyes," he wrote in his bio. He started crafting his own wines and tinkering with production methods, experimenting with different yeast strains. He travels from Paso Robles to Alexander Valley searching for fruit and the exploring vineyards that meet his standards, focusing on the minerality of the region. Jeff's discoveries include the Rockpile region in Sonoma, where 16 years ago he began sourcing the syrah grapes that are now the main component of several of his wines; the Buffalo Hill Syrah, Haley's Reserve Syrah, and the Domaine des Chirats Syrah.

Now, Cohn’s portfolio includes over 24 wines in any given vintage, with a focus on Rhone and Zinfandel grape varietals. The wines are the product of both his own production techniques and time-tested French methods. Visitors to the tasting room, located just off of the historic Sonoma Square, can enjoy Jeff’s wines by the glass or partake in a tasting led by seasoned wine educators.