Jay attended Santa Clara University in California and received a Bachelor of Science degree in the combined disciplines of Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. After graduation in 1996 he returned home to the Napa Valley where intense home winemaking coupled with harvest work at The Hess Collection Winery fueled a passion for the art and science of wine.

A trip to Australia delayed original plans for medical school but the voyage continued his wine knowledge and progression into the wine industry. Upon his return to Napa, Jay became the Enologist for the Hess Collection Winery and started the family winery and vineyard management company with his brothers.

In 2001 he was promoted to Winemaker for the Hess Collection where he remained until the spring of 2005. Jay has moved on from his day job as winemaker to not only focus even more time on his responsibility as Buoncristiani’s winemaker, but also to pursue his current role as hands-on Consulting Winemaker for various new Napa Valley labels.

The 2005 vintage also marks a new beginning for the Gemella label, created as a labor of love between Jay and Kristin that features an exotic Napa Valley Viognier and an opulent Petite Sirah Port - www.GemellaWines.com.