Elevated & Bright

Jonathan Scott Oberlander is the epitome of the new generation of Oregon winemakers who utilize a combination of Old World winemaking traditions with New World technology and innovation. After graduating from San Diego State University with a degree in Business, he began his career selling wine for Young's Market Company. After several visits to wineries in Napa and Sonoma, Jonathan fell in love with “the smell of the cellar”.

In 1994, in what some family members perceived as a lapse in good judgment, Jonathan quit his sales job and followed his girlfriend, Bonnie (now his wife) to UC Davis to pursue a Master's degree in Enology. Jonathan spent two years at Davis as a full time student while also managing a local restaurant/brewery. In 1996, Jonathan learned that California State University Fresno was about to open its new student winery, the only university in the country to hold such a distinction. The students not only grew the grapes, but also made and sold the wine. This was an opportunity not to be missed! The practical winemaking skills learned in Fresno proved to be invaluable.

In 1998, Jonathan was hired as the Assistant Winemaker at Bernardus Vineyards and Winery in Monterey, California and by 2001 was named Associate Winemaker. Under the tutelage of Burgundian trained winemakers, Don Blackburn and Davis trained Mark Chesebro, Jonathan honed his skills making Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and all the Bordeaux varietals.

When offered the position of Assistant Winemaker at Silvan Ridge in Eugene, Oregon, (2003) it seemed an opportunity he could not pass up! Jonathan and Bonnie sold their home in California in less than a week and very quickly, the family (including two young daughters) was on its way to Oregon. In 2005, Jonathan was promoted to head the Silvan Ridge winemaking team.

While at Silvan Ridge, Jonathan established his own brand, J. Scott Cellars and in 2013, he moved into a new winemaking warehouse facility and J. Scott Cellars became his sole winemaking focus.

In 2020, Jonathan opened J. Scott Cellars on 5th, a upscale wine bar and tasting room located in The Market District of downtown Eugene, Oregon. The J. Scott Cellars brand features an extensive menu of extraordinary tasting wines of the Pacific Northwest, with 18 current and past vintages receiving the coveted 90 Pts and above from national publication, “Wine Enthusiast”!