Sonoma’s Jeff Cohn Cellars Closing Shop
Sonoma winemaker Jeff Cohn, a top producer of California Zinfandel and Syrah, is closing down his winery, Jeff Cohn Cellars, after the 2024 vintage. Cohn and his wife and business partner, Alexandra, revealed the news to Wine Spectator, stating that it was time to move on after nearly 30 years. It’s the latest in a series of wineries simply closing shop amid tumultuous times in the wine industry.
Zinfandel and Syrah producers have been particularly hard hit in the current downturn, but as Alexandra, 66, said, “It’s not an easy time to sell any wine. Times are a changing and with the whole trajectory of the wine industry, we just feel like it’s the right time.”
Cohn routinely produces some of the most highly rated Zins and Rhône-style reds in California, typically receiving outstanding reviews of 90 points or higher. The winery made about 3,000 cases in 2023 and made only a tiny amount in 2024.
“I think I’ve pretty much accomplished everything I wanted to do,” said Jeff, 63. “Between my own project and working at Rosenblum, I’ve had an opportunity to take Zinfandel to a new level. The same thing with the Rhône varietals. I feel fortunate that I got to work with so many fantastic people, especially Kent Rosenblum.”
A Winery Focused on Zinfandel and Syrah
Cohn studied hospitality and culinary arts before turning to winemaking. His first winery job was at Boordy Vineyard in his native Maryland. Next, he studied chemistry and enology at California’s Fresno State University. Rosenblum hired him as an enologist in 1996, and Cohn worked his way up to head winemaker.
Cohn also launched his first wine brand in 1996, JC Cellars, producing just 75 cases of Zinfandel that year from Mendocino’s Redwood Valley. At first he made his wine on the side at Rosenblum Cellars in Alameda before moving on to other production facilities over the years. In 2014, the winery was rebranded as Jeff Cohn Cellars. In 2017, they moved operations to Sonoma County and opened a tasting room just off of Sonoma Plaza, later moving to their current tasting room in Healdsburg.
[article-img-container][src=2025-06/ns_jeff-and-alexandra-cohn-062625_1600.jpg] [credit= (Jason Tinacci) ] [alt= Alexandra Cohn, Joel Peterson and Jeff Cohn at Wine Spectator’s 2018 Bring Your Own Magnum Party in Sonoma.][end: article-img-container]
Over the years, Cohn has collaborated with noted international winemakers, such as Côte-Rôtie’s Yves Cuilleron with their Domaine des Chirats Rockpile Vineyard Syrah bottling and Condrieu’s Yves Gangloff on a California Viognier project. He hopes to continue as a consultant or collaborator in the future.
Hard Times For Small Wineries
The Cohns have been considering a change for more than a year. Selling the winery seemed a longshot, considering how many wineries are reportedly for sale in California. With the industry in flux, potential buyers are holding off, particularly on smaller wineries. There is also a glut of wine in the state—many growers left grapes unpicked in 2024. “We get random emails and calls all the time from growers looking for a home for their fruit,” said Alexandra.
Ultimately, they came to the same conclusion as their friends Mike and Kendall Officer of Carlisle did a year ago—calling it quits.
“We had a growth period of 30 years, the entire time we’ve been in business, and now all of a sudden,” Alexandra said. Now in their 60s, the Cohns are looking forward to the future. “You want to continue your life and go have some fun, right?” Alexandra added. “I want that freedom. I want to go out and explore the world.”