Ward on Wine Jeff Cohn Cellars

In 1997 Jeff Cohn produced the first wine under his own label, with one goal in mind. Produce wines that are a true reflection of the personalities of the growers, the vineyards, and of course the winemaker. Jeff and Alexandra were on a mission to fulfill their dream of having their own wine made from the best vineyards. Their passion for finding rocky, hillside vineyards that produced a sense of minerality set them on the course for what is now Jeff Cohn Cellars.

The main focus is to produce Rhône varietals including Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier, while including Jeff’s passion for making single vineyard Zinfandel and Petite Sirah.

We look for fruit that comes from exceptional vineyards so we can make exceptional wines. We love vineyards that are rocky and steep, as these types of vineyards produce fruit which leads to concentrated wines bursting with flavor. We do not pick the fruit based on the number but rather by how they taste as they near optimal ripeness.

Jeff’s fermentation techniques bring these grapes to a whole new level. The yeasts we use for each wine are dependent on the fruit’s flavors and what Jeff wants to accentuate from a particular vineyard. Most of our yeast strains are from the Northern and Southern Rhône as well as a yeast that Jeff isolated from the Rockpile Vineyard. Each yeast accentuates different aromatics and flavor profiles for each wine without overpowering the terroir.

Some wines are aged in traditional 228L French oak barrels, while others get Jeff’s wheels turning. Larger format barrels, a 600L concrete Foudre, concrete eggs, and terra cotta amphoras all find their home at our winery. Each creates a different flavor profile and depth, bringing out the best that the wine has to offer. Remember Jeff’s goal, to make exceptional wines no matter what it takes. Barrel by barrel the wines are nurtured to express the Passion that drives Jeff’s thirst for excellence, the Pride of putting the best wine in the bottle, and the Sense of Place that is expressed as a primary characteristic in each and every wine.