Carmel Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located 12 miles inland from the California coastline, and within Monterey County. Due to its elevation among the steep hills of the Santa Lucia Range, Carmel Valley is sheltered from Monterey’s cool maritime fog, allowing for the production of rich, flavorful Bordeaux-style wines. Carmel Valley and the surrounding region are also home to several world class golf courses, a plethora of five-star restaurants and resorts, and countless outdoor actives making it the ideal vacation destination for any wine enthusiast!
Experience our hospitality through intimate food and wine pairing experiences in our Tasting Room, located at the entrance to Carmel Valley Village. Designed by local master mason, Joseph DeMaria, it’s just a mere 20 minutes away from the Monterey coast.
Our Carmel Valley hospitality isn’t complete without festive parties, tours and special events. We welcome you to join us at our estate.
Learn about our wines and and the inspiration that led the original founders to Carmel Valley.
Owners Jane and Tom Lerum are Oklahoma residents with close ties to Carmel Valley. The couple was engaged on a family owned property only a few miles away from Joullian Vineyards. It was through spending time together in Carmel Valley over the years that led Tom and Jane to fall prey to the romance of the wine business.
Jane is an Oklahoma native who got her start working in banking and now serves as a director for the newly established Arnall Family Foundation. She graduated from Duke University where she studied public policy and environmental engineering.
Tom is a former Air Force officer and was stationed in Los Angeles before leaving the service and moving to Oklahoma. Originally from San Diego, Tom graduated from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs with a degree in Systems Engineering Management.
Both Jane and Tom studied wine business management at the University of California, Los Angeles.
For over 10 years, Matt Piagari has helped create some of the most magnificent and recognized wines on California’s Central Coast. After studying Enology at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Piagari worked at J. Lohr’s pilot winery helping craft their award-winning Vineyard and Cuvee Series wines. In 2012, Piagari was hired by Donati Family Vineyard in Paso Robles to assist in making the transition from small scale, boutique winery, to a nationally distributed brand recognized for handcrafted premium wines.
In August of 2016, Matt joined Joullian Vineyards, bringing his hands-on winemaking experience to some of the most spectacular fruit grown in Santa Lucia Highlands, Arroyo Secco and Joullian’s own renowned Carmel Valley estate vines. He lives in Marina with his wife, Lauren, and their Catahoula Leopard dog, Blue.