Jekel Vineyards

Founded in 1972 by Bill Jekel, one of the first growers to see Monterey’s potential for wine excellence, Jekel Vineyards released its first vintage (a Johannesburg Riesling) in 1978 and continues to be recognized as a pioneer in Monterey winemaking. Bill’s tireless passion for winemaking and all things Monterey led to Monterey’s designation as a American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1984, literally putting Monterey on the winemaking map.

Charlie Gilmore - In Charlie Gilmore’s world, simple is good, quality is critical and terroir is everything. Even before Charlie earned his Viticulture and Enology degree at UC Davis in 2000; he was already working in the wine industry, serving an internship at at Artesa Vineyards and Winery in Napa. From there he worked at some of world’s most respected wineries, including Cakebread Cellars, Gundlach Bundschu and Rosenblum Cellars, as well as...