Max Murray

“There weren’t any vines in Florida – none that I knew about, at least,” Max Murray says. After graduating from Florida Atlantic University with a degree in marketing and finance, he was working in real estate when he decided to take a road trip to Sonoma County with his father. They happened to have brunch with Jennifer Jackson Hartford, eldest daughter of Jess Jackson and founder of Hartford Family Winery, who invited the pair to stop by the winery for a tasting. It was there that Max met Jenny’s daughter, Hailey, and the two hit it off.

After several attempts to persuade Hailey to move to Florida, Max returned to Sonoma County to work harvest at Hartford Family Winery. The process was eye opening, and Max traveled with Hailey to work another harvest immediately thereafter at Yangarra Estates in McLaren Vale. “As everyone works together to craft a quality wine, a real sense of community builds,” he reflects. “It’s interesting how wine brings everyone together.”

Max now works with the sales department of Jackson Family Wines, where he feels that the personal touch is key, whether he is working in the tasting room or traveling to markets across the U.S. “The culture in the wine industry really stands alone,” he says. “Just as we share our wines at home every day, I hope that those who drink our wines across the country enjoy that togetherness as well.” Max now lives with his wife, Hailey Jackson Hartford Murray and their son in Sonoma County.