Winemaker Jonathan Nagy
My vision for J. Wilkes is to craft wines that capture the essence the Central Coast: to showcase the diversity and exceptional terroir of its many sub-AVAs, while getting to work with some of the top vineyards in Santa Barbara County and Paso Robles.
The Man Behind J. Wilkes Wine
A native of Santa Barbara County, veteran winemaker and Pinot Noir master Jonathan Nagy, joined the J. Wilkes family in 2020, bringing with him over 20 years of winemaking expertise. After graduating from UC Davis, his experiences have taken him all over California to such cellars as Mondavi, Cambria, and Byron, but it is the Central Coast that Nagy calls home and where his true passion for crafting world-class wine lies. Under his guidance, J. Wilkes has developed a reputation for exceptional Pinot two ways – Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir – as well as traditional California varieties and rare, emerging gems like Lagrien. We are honored to not only have Jonathan as part of our J. Wilkes family, but to have him leading the charge as we continue to craft exceptional, exploration-worthy wines.
