Jeff Cohn, the "JC", winemaker and president of JC Cellars, possesses an extensive background in both wine and food. He received his associate degree in culinary arts from Johnson and Wales Culinary Institute in Providence, Rhode Island in 1982, and a bachelor of science in hospitality management form Florida International University in Miami in 1984. After university, Jeff worked in several high profile positions in the hospitality industry, including manager for Sutton Place Gourmet in Washington, DC, and food and beverage director for Windjammer Barefoot Cruises in Miami.

Throughout his years in the hospitality industry, Jeff found his passion for wine steadily growing. The more he learned, the more he wanted to learn, until he realized that becoming a winemaker was his ultimate goal. With the encouragement and support of his family, he moved to California in 1993 to follow his dream of studying winemaking. Jeff earned his masters in agriculture chemistry, with an emphasis on enology, from Fresno State University in 1996.

Upon graduation, Jeff joined Rosenblum Cellars as enologist. Working with Kent Rosenblum, he gained an intimate understanding of their diverse portfolio of wines, and rapidly moved beyond the classic enologist role of lab work and analysis into the realm of assistant winemaker. Entrusting Jeff with more and more winemaking responsibilities, Kent soon put him in charge of production for the white wine program.

In 2000, Jeff was promoted to winemaker for Rosenblum Cellars, and in 2004 he was named vice president of winemaking and production. Then, in February 2006, after 10 years of winemaking for Rosenblum, Jeff resigned to focus on his own label.

As crazy as it might seem to have a full time job and do your own label, Jeff decided to start his own label, JC Cellars, shortly after joining Rosenblum Cellars, and the first vintage was 75 cases of the 1996 Rhodes Vineyard Zinfandel from Mendocino County. Overall production for JC Cellars has now increased to 4,200 cases for the 2004 vintage.

When Jeff is not making, drinking or reading about wine, he spends his time with his family. His other interests include basketball, pétanque (the French version of bocce ball) and running. Jeff loves Alameda with its Victorian houses and while taking long runs to relax, has put in a lot of miles running around the island checking them out.

Alexandra Cohn, accountant and CFO, is the other half of JC Cellars. Alexandra graduated from Florida International University in Miami, Florida in 1987 where she obtained a Masters of Science in Hospitality Management. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She worked in the hospitality industry for 10 years as an accountant and a consultant prior to becoming a CPA in 1995. She was an auditor for Ernst & Young, specializing in audits of hotels, wineries and employee benefit plans.

Alexandra now works from home for JC Cellars while taking care of their daughters, Isabel and Haley. Alexandra's interests include photography, crafts, baking, and gardening.