Jonathan Pey is a US native, but grew up in France with a European father.  The European culture played an important role in swinging his interests toward fine wines.

In Paris, his cheeseburger and Coca-Cola upbringing collided face-first with the culture of the fine wines of Burgundy, Alsace and Bordeaux. Upon his return to America he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy from the University of Arizona, a Masters in Business Administration from the McLaren Graduate School of Business at The University of San Francisco and also attended numerous winegrowing courses at U.C. Davis. He has enjoyed a broad, successful career in the wine business, tasting, listening and learning while working with some of the leading winemakers in the world, including Jacques Lardiére of Burgundy’s Domâine Louis Jadot, Christian Moueix of Pomerol’s Chateau Petrus, Peter Gago of Penfolds and Mr. Robert Mondavi.

Since 1984 Jonathan has held roles of increasing responsibility in a wide variety of winery and distribution operations. Beginning in a fine wine shop he quickly was offered a role “on the street” at the legendary importer Kobrand Corporation. Six years and four promotions later he held the Regional Sales Director role for the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii and Northern California. His next challenge took him to be mentored by Napa Valley visionary Jack Davies, founder of Schramsberg, who at that time was beginning a joint-venture in Portugal, for which Jonathan was Vice-President and General Manager. Three years of working and living off and on in Portugal gave Jonathan an exceptional understanding of new business venture development from the ground up.

In 1994 Jonathan accepted a role to work with Sam Bronfman II running the International Division for Seagram Chateau & Estate Wines, responsible for exporting wines to more than forty countries. Jonathan built Mumm Napa Valley into Napa’s largest export, even larger than the iconic Robert Mondavi Winery.

In 2001, Jonathan accepted one of the most challenging roles in the industry – Vice-President of the newly-formed Mondavi-Rosemount joint venture. This dual hemisphere role required the development of two brands, sold by competing sales organizations across the globe.  This was building two new businesses from scratch in arguably one of the most hostile environments possible. Three years later the brands were up and running smoothly and added value to both companies in their respective acquisitions. Mondavi was purchased by Constellation and Rosemount sold out to Fosters. Though both organizations offered Jonathan senior roles, he jumped at the chance to become General Manager of Penfolds $60M business in North America. He led the turnaround of Penfolds’ on-premise business, considerable portfolio rationalization and repackaging, and drove the successful and delicate communications initiative of putting winemaker Peter Gago in front of Robert Parker, who for the first time, awarded 16 of 20 Penfolds wines scores over 90 points. In 2005, after twenty years in the industry, Jonathan left Fosters Wine Estates to focus on his entrepreneurial business of winegrowing and brand development (Pey-Marin, Spicerack, Textbook).

Jonathan is married to his college sweetheart, Susan Pey, Corporate Wine Director of Il Fornaio Restaurant Group and they raise their three daughters in San Anselmo, California. He enjoys playing competitive soccer, coaching girls soccer, skiing and relaxing at warm beaches around the world.