Viticultural centre named after Justin and J. Lohr wine estates

A new viticultural centre set to open at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo will be named The Justin and J.Lohr Center for Wine and Viticulture in recognition of each estate’s $2.5 million donation to fund the project.

Artists rendering of the Justin and J. Lohr Center for Wine and Viticulture

Lynda and Stewart Resnick, who own Justin Vineyards & Winery, and Jerry Lohr, of J. Lohr Vineyards, together donated $5m to the university’s campaign to build the Center for Wine and Viticulture. Both producers are based in Paso Robles.

“Cal Poly has demonstrated the university’s commitment to providing future generations of wine makers and vintners and its support of the wine industry at a national level,” said Resnick. “Our investment in the Cal Poly Center for Wine and Viticulture signifies our commitment to a partnership that will allow the industry to continue to prosper. We are not just giving back, we are investing in the future.”

The new centre will include a 15,600-square-foot winery and a 12,000-square-foot grange hall and is a completely donor-funded project, intended to enhance the Wine and Viticulture program at Cal Poly for years to come, with its geographical location providing students with easy access to top vineyards and winemakers.

The new buildings will include crush, fermentation, barrel, sensory, bottling, enology and viticulture rooms, as well as teaching and research labs, a bonded winery, offices and community and industry meeting spaces.

“We would not be where we are today, ready to begin construction, without the countless volunteers who stepped forward and the leadership and persistence of our longtime supporters, including Jerry Lohr who has been with the project since its inception and led the charge in rallying the wine community to support our vision for the future,” said Andrew Thulin, dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.

“The symbiotic relationship that is shared by Cal Poly and the wine industry nationwide will now be commemorated brick by brick.”

Cal Poly’s Wine and Viticulture program focuses on the three major elements of the wine industry: viticulture, enology and wine business.

The program currently has a 14-acre teaching and production vineyard and small pilot winery where students gain hands-on experience in all aspects of the industry, from vineyard cultivation and management to winemaking, marketing and distribution.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on 4 May, with a public event set to take place when construction is complete, anticipated late 2019.

(L) Matt Steel from Justin Vineyards & Winery and (R) Jerry Lohr, of J. Lohr