J. Lynne Winemaker Jennifer Wall debuted her first vintage of this brand in 2003 with the release of 2002 J. Lynne Russian River Valley Chardonnay and 2002 J. Lynne Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. (J. Lynne is Jennifer’s first initial and her middle name.) Jennifer loves the weather in the Russian River Valley appellation, and the fact that the Pacific fog allows a slower maturation cycle which lends to more intense fruit flavors and aromas in the glass. Jennifer’s goal for this brand is to produce the best wines from the Russian River Valley which sell for less than $20 per bottle.

Jennifer is a native Californian and was born in Sacramento, California. Jennifer originally intended on attending medical school after receiving a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of California at Santa Cruz. Following graduation in 1991, Jennifer moved to Sonoma County, where she acquired her first winery position at a custom wine processing facility called Vinwood Cellars. Jennifer started at the ground floor of the operation working in the lab and checking fermenting tanks daily, ensuring the juice was turning into wines as they should.
After spending one harvest working at the winery, medical school was a distant memory for Jennifer. 14 to 16 hour shifts couldn’t extinguish Jennifer’s enthusiasm for her new found winemaking career. With the help of a mentor winemaker, Erin Green, now winemaker of Palhmeyer, Jennifer learned her winemaking skills ‘on the job’ while taking enology classes at night. Vinwood Cellars also offered Jennifer the ability to learn various winemaking methods since each winemaking client using the plant had different techniques and winemaking styles.

Vinwood Cellars was eventually sold to Kendall Jackson. In 1993 the original principals of Vinwood Cellars created a new company and offered Jennifer a position as

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Lab Director and the opportunity to work first hand in the establishment of the lab and protocol for a new winery. In that position Jennifer assisted & trained with Master Winemaker Kerry Damskey, who has been an accredited winemaker in Sonoma County since 1985, and is also the two time recipient of the Sonoma County Harvest Fair Sweepstakes award.

Just prior to harvest of 1995, Jennifer started her career as the winemaker for Barefoot Cellars Winery. That year ended with Barefoot Cellars Winery selling 140,000 cases. For almost 10 years Jennifer led the winemaking and production operation for Barefoot Cellars which sold 600,000 cases in 2004.
During that time the owners of Bareofoot Cellars winery allowed Jennifer to develop her own brand, J. Lynne Wines. Now, Jennifer and her husband Mike own and manage the winery together.
Both J. Lynne Wines were well received right out of the floodgates with the 2002 Pinot Noir winning many medals including 2 DOUBLE GOLD Medals and the 2002 Chardonnay receiving numerous awards including Gold Medals and the prestigious Certificate of American Merit given by the 2004 Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition in Columbia, Missouri.

Since she became a winemaker in 1995, Jennifer has received over 2000 medals for her wines, including many Gold and Double Gold medals. In 2004, she received 361 medals including many outstanding accolades.

When she is not working or spending time with her family and friends, Jennifer volunteers her time to Junior Achievement and the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation. She also enjoys gardening, cooking and travel.

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