Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon by J. Lohr

“We didn’t necessarily use the word ‘sustainability’ back then. From day one, we were always working to improve the way we take care of our soils, water, air, and other resources in the vineyards and winery.” – Jerry Lohr

This quote is part of what impresses me most about J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines.  Despite how big their operation is, and it is huge (over 3700 acres of estate vineyards in Paso Robles, Monterey and Napa), they have a deep-rooted respect for the environment.  This is not always common among wineries of their size.  As one of the top 30 wine producers in the USA by volume, they are a leader in sustainability initiatives and corporate social responsibility.  They believe there is a strong correlation between environmental stewardship, conservation and wine quality. 
 
As part of J. Lohr's sustainability initiatives, the company also runs comprehensive water and energy conservation programs, uses biodegradable inks and papers in its packaging, and preserves vineyard ecosystems through strategic vineyard planning.  
 
Not to mention the wines! J. Lohr wines to me come down to three things:  consistency, intensity and balance. Year after year the wines are top notch; this is one of the reasons for Seven Oaks success in Canada. People know what to expect when opening a bottle. Intense fruit-driven wines with exceptional balance and great structure.  The wines are powerful, but elegant, fresh and well-balanced.   
 
On a personal note, I was lucky enough to be able to visit the winery a few years ago.  I was blown away by the attention to detail during the trip, and the amount of time Jerry and Steve Lohr, as well as the other family members spent with us during the week. Both were incredibly generous with their time, and I personally enjoyed prodding them with questions frequently as they both have a deep, deep well of knowledge about everything California wine.  In the wine business we typically say “if you’ve seen one winery, you’ve seen them all”.  Well I would say they are a definite exception to this, as I was amazed at not only the sheer size of the operation in Paso Robles, but also at how spotless it was! Seeing the vast Paso Robles vineyards first hand, it is amazing to consider their commitment to sustainable agriculture given the sheer size of their operation. 
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Check out the below video of J. Lohr’s winemaker introducing you to Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the top selling California Cabernets in Canada.  There are a series of videos focusing on different wines available on their YouTube channel.  

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