MEET OUR PEOPLE
Jason Eells
Mettler Family Vineyards / Vineyard Manager
HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN FARMING? HOW MANY YEARS HAS YOUR FAMILY BEEN FARMING?
I have been farming for 25 years and my family has been farming for over 100 years.
HOW MANY ACRES DO YOU FARM AND HOW MANY VARIETIES DO YOU GROW?
We farm over 20 varieties on roughly 2,000 acres of vineyards.
I FARM BECAUSE...
I love it. After 25 years, I can’t imagine doing anything else. It doesn’t get better than being outdoors and working with my hands to produce something that makes people happy.
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU’D LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT LODI?
Lodi is one of the best places to grow winegrapes and make wine in California. The climate, soils, and people are hard to beat!
WHO HAS BEEN THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MENTOR IN YOUR CAREER?
My father-in-law, Larry Mettler. Larry has guided me through the last 25 years, and I wouldn’t be here, doing what I’m doing, without him. Farming winegrapes isn’t something you learn overnight; it takes years, if not generations, to fully understand.
HOW HAS THE LODI WINE REGION CHANGED OVER THE YEARS OR SINCE YOU’VE BEEN HERE?
Lodi has changed a lot with the addition of all the small wineries. When we started our family winery you could probably count on one hand the number of wineries in Lodi. Now, the last time I checked, there are over 85 in the area.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I was in the Navy during the first Gulf War.
FORD, CHEVY, OR DODGE?
Dodge.
