Throughout Jay’s life, he has made his avocation his vocation. Following his passion for music, Jay cofounded the seminal indie record label IRS Records at the age of 21. A tenure as president of MCA/Universal Records in his mid-30s followed. Throughout his formidable career, he launched or fostered some of the most influential music artists of the past three decades, including R.E.M., The Go-Go’s, Blink-182, Mary J. Blige, Sublime, The Roots, and B.B. King.The founding of Nicolas-Jay marks the next act in his remarkable professional life—and the culmination of a lifelong love affair with wine.

Jay has immersed himself in the world of viticulture and winemaking, working alongside his longtime friend Jean-Nicolas, and is deeply involved in every aspect of Nicolas-Jay. Spending close to six months a year in the Willamette Valley, Jay is both the dynamic guiding force behind Nicolas-Jay and its most committed cellar rat—taking samples, driving the fruit from the vineyards, sorting grapes, doing punch-downs, and whatever else needs doing in the winery or tasting room.

“There are so many parallels between wine and music,” says Jay. “Both are driven by personal recommendations—one friend telling another—and they both enhance and enrich our lives by creating emotional connections. There are certain wines, like certain albums, that move you and stay with you forever.” For Jay, whether from Burgundy or the Willamette Valley, these unforgettable wines are almost always Pinot Noirs.

Contact the host of Oregon Soil, Burgundy Soul: An Evening with Nicolas Jay Wines