the pupose
At Byron Blatty our focus is on limited-edition, handcrafted red wines that feature sustainably farmed, family-owned vineyards in Los Angeles County. We work with over six vineyards, including one that we farm ourselves, and fifteen different varieties from every corner of the county, selecting only the most interesting, and unique expressions of Los Angeles terroir to feature in our carefully crafted wines.
All of our fruit is handpicked, fermented with native yeasts whenever possible, and aged in a mixture of new and neutral French and American oak barrels for as long as 58 months. Our wines are clarified using traditional racking methods, and are treated with a minimal amount of sulfites to protect them during aging and bottling. The result is a selection of powerful, balanced wines with bold flavors and extraordinary nuance, showcasing the best of what L.A. has to offer. If terroir is a sense of place and the expression of its character, Los Angeles has never been expressed this way before…
The Mission
Beginning in 2020 our winery began a collaboration with the Mission San Gabriel and the Los Angeles Vintners Association in which we help look after the ancient vines on the mission property, and make a small amount of Angelica from the tiny amount of grapes that still grow there. The wines made from these historic vines have not been released, and will likely be allocated to the club members of all three participating wineries: Byron Blatty, Cavaletti Vineyards, and Angeleno Wine Company. For updates please join our mailing list.
the people
Mark & Jenny BY
Mark and Jenny founded Byron Blatty Wines in 2014, after a visit to Napa Valley. Inspired by the story of Napa’s original vintners, who challenged the French with their determination to create world-class wines in a previously unproven region, the Blattys had only one rule that would guide them on their endeavor to start a commercial winery: The wines had to be from their hometown of Los Angeles.
Initially they intended to plant a small vineyard on their hillside property, but soon realized that the space was not large enough, nor was it right for the varietals they had in mind. Undeterred, they began to search for vineyards in LA County from which to source their grapes. Despite the area's rich wine history, established vineyards in LA are few and far between, and it took the couple nearly a year to discover just the right sites, tucked away in the far corners of the county.
The couple is hands on in every element of the business, including the winemaking which Mark plays a major role in, with everything from vineyard management, to barrel selection, to blending. The winemaking team of Blatty, Lemley, Hasper and Perry work together on a unified vision of what Los Angeles wine can be.
Together Mark and Jenny oversee the overall brand development, wine club management, events, marketing, and sales for the winery. In addition to being vintners, the Blattys also have careers in television. Mark is a Los Angeles native, and Jenny relocated from Chicago in 2001. They have two sons, Oliver Byron and Rexford Jackson, born in 2017 and 2021.
JOEY PERRY, WINEMAKER
Joey Perry became Byron Blatty's assistant winemaker in 2015, and officially became one of our winemakers in 2020. He manages all winery operations and plays an important role in the shaping of Byron Blatty Wines, including blending, stylistic direction, and barrel selection. He is also launched his own label, Bivium Wines, in spring 2022. The SoCal native got his MBA from the University of Laverne and had his sights set on a career on Wall Street before a wine course at College of the Canyons in Valencia altered his path. Perry decided the trading life was not going to be for him and instead immersed himself in wine. He married his wife, Kristine, in 2015 and have three daughters.
the pce
Before Napa Valley and Sonoma County became synonymous with wine country, Los Angeles was the center of California’s wine trade. In the late 1800s, vineyards lined the banks of the LA River and dotted the area, supplying the grapes for the finest wines in the state. But by the early 1930s, the impact of the Gold Rush, an outbreak of Pierce's disease, and the scourge of Prohibition had nearly wiped out LA’s vineyards, which were converted to citrus groves, replanted to other crops, or cleared for urban development.
In the decades since, a mere few vineyards have been planted, by those who know that Los Angeles is still capable of producing world-class wines. Each of these sites is unique in its altitude, soil type, exposure, and overall climate, yet common among them is the magnificent sunshine that graces the region year round.