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WINEMAKER INTERVIEW September 2016 WINES&VINES 51 W hen Jay Corley was studying for his master of business administration degree at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., his thesis was about starting a vineyard and winery business. After spending a few years on successful business ventures in Southern California, he decided to put that thesis into practice. He traveled to the Napa Valley in 1969 in search of land for a vineyard. Corley was interested in Burgundian varieties, so in 1970 he chose a site just north of the city of Napa—in what is now known at the Oak Knoll Dis- trict—because it was cooler than spots farther up valley. (In those days, there weren't many vines farther south, in places like Carneros.) At first, Corley sold his grapes, but in 1980 he produced his first vintage under the Monticello Vineyards label. A winery was completed in 1982, the same year that the Corley label was launched. The Corleys have since become partners in two other vineyards and have established long- term relationships with two more. Corley's seven children helped out when they were young, and four of his sons now work in the business. Kevin Corley, the eldest, joined the company in 1987; his titles are now winegrower and president. Chris joined the wine- making team in 1989 and was appointed winemaker in 2002. Stephen became director of sales in 1997. Kent is the most recent addition—after working in the securities busi- ness, he joined the winery in 2013 to handle corporate issues and special projects. Jay Corley, who retired in 1996, died in 2016. But even as many of the valley's longtime family-owned wineries are being sold to outsiders, Corley's sons are determined that the winery will remain in family hands for the fore- seeable future. A CONVERSATION WITH The Corley Family Four sons of founder Jay Corley manage Napa's Monticello Vineyards By Laurie Daniel Chris (from left), Stephen, Kevin and Kent Corley all handle different aspects of their family-owned wine business.