Jayson Pahlmeyer
The architect of Pahlmeyer, Jayson Pahlmeyer, bears a strong resemblance to the first red wine he introduced to the world...unexpected, bold and irrepressible. His naturally adventurous wiring has driven him to break the rules and accomplish what the rest of the wine industry, assumed patently "impossible." What would be the background of someone willing to travel to another continent to find and gather classic clones, bring them back to untested soils, and attempt his own definition of ancient grape libation?
The ageing and refining of Jayson Pahlmeyer started in Oakland, California. Early ambition led him to first choose the fast and furious legal profession for his life's work. From Oakland, it was across the Bay to study Economics at San Francisco State. He then spent three years living, as he calls, "the proverbial round-peg-square-hole syndrome," as a banker at Wells Fargo. Getting back to a more comfortable, but not yet even footing, Jayson enrolled at Golden Gate University School of Law. Once there he discovered the ultimate distraction from the pressures of tort study; that came in the form of a law school wine tasting group. There he was introduced to the subtleties and styles of wine, sparking the passion that would become his world.
From law school it was on to a position as trial attorney for the Federal Government in Washington D.C., and then back to Oakland to form Haas & Pahlmeyer, Attorneys-at-Law. His personal study of the grapes-to-wine process began to occupy more and more of his time and thought; law was quickly becoming secondary to his passion for wine.
In 1984, with the US dollar in his favor, Jayson moved with his first wife, two-year-old daughter and newborn son to a small town near San Sebastian, Spain to read classic novels and revel in the wines of Old World cellars. After two years, bored with the European lifestyle, Jayson found himself itching to jump headlong into the fine wine business and returned home. Back in California he began importing the Grand cru Chateau Monbousquet from the appellation Saint-Emilion. In 1987, he broke into the California wine business with his negociant label Five Palms, but terminated the venture after the threat of a trademark lawsuit by the winery with only three palms to its name.
At this point, it became only natural for him to realize his dream of producing a California wine using the five classic Bordeaux varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Jayson articulates the inspiration behind his concept: "1982 was the first vintage that put Bordeaux on the map for Americans. That was the 'vintage of the century,' where Bordeaux most closely resembled the California style: rich, fruity and ripe." His dream of creating "my own Mouton" eventually led him to the harvesting and bottling of his first Pahlmeyer wine in 1986.
Click on Our Story to read about the details of how Jayson and his compatriots became part of the great and glorious Northern California wine making scene...
That first attempt scored 94 points from the renowned Robert Parker, shocking wine connoisseurs and critics nationwide.
There has been no turning back from that victory. Jayson continues to conceive of new ways to fine-tune his products. He is quick to give credit and high praise to the fine winemakers with whom he has been lucky enough to work. Together, they have created wines that have far surpassed his wildest dreams. Recently asked about the Pahlmeyer of tomorrow, he succinctly offered, "For us the future means quality without compromise.
