Story
Jacob Franklin Wines is a family run wine brand that was started by the Coursen family in 1998. In 2018 we amicably went our separate ways with Elyse Winery and now Ray and Jake (Jacob) Coursen are taking the reins.
Though there have been some changes, our main focus continues to be on producing beautiful, vineyard designate wines that paint a clear picture of vintage and locale. Our goal each vintage is to make wines that show the subtle differences of each growing season with the only necessary consistency being the quality and care we take with these wines. We believe great wines are grown in the vineyard and as so we do our best to guide these wines with minimal intervention. In 2019 and beyond we will be continuing to work with some of our favorite vineyards as well as some new vineyards we are sure you will love. Thanks for coming along for the ride!
Ray Coursen
Growing up on a dairy farm in New Jersey, Ray was born into agriculture. After some years in the ARMY and some years traveling the world, Ray attended the University of Massachusetts and earned a degree that focused on Stone fruit cultivation. Paying his way through college by working at a wine shop in Boston, Ray became entranced by wine. A means to get by became a lifestyle for Ray and in 1983 Ray and Nancy loaded their Honda Civic and drove west with dreams of making great wines from California. They ended up in Rutherford, CA and in 1987 Ray made his first wine under his own label, Elyse. Before, and after Elyse, Ray held winemaker titles for wineries that include Whitehall Lane, Shifflet winery, Falcor, Shadow Brook, and Purple Heart Wines. In 1998 Ray harvested the estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Elyse Winery and Jacob Franklin Wines was created.
Jake Coursen
Growing up in Napa Valley, Jake spent his youth playing in vineyards and wineries. Jake left Napa Valley to earn a degree in Agricultural Business from California State University, Chico Jake unsure about which path he wanted to take in life accepted an internship with Hunnicutt winery in 2013. Hired as a production assistant after harvest, Jake got an intimate knowledge of winemaking from some of the valley’s top winemakers. Eager to gain a broader understanding of the industry Jake worked a Viticultural/ Lab internship for Cakebread cellars. Following the internship Jake returned to Hunnicutt winery as a production assistant until 2015. For the next 3 years Jake soaked up as much knowledge as possible from the team at Elyse while working as their Cellar master. With the sale of Elyse approaching Jake realized it was time to sink or swim and so he signed a grape contract for a smidge of Grenache. This would mark Jake’s beginning as head winemaker for Jacob Franklin Wines.