Napa, Cali.—Jay Corley, a Napa Valley grape grower for nearly 50 years and founder of Monticello Vineyards, died Jan. 11 in Napa, surrounded by family. He was 84 years old.

An entrepreneur at his core, Corley founded and managed a number of successful business ventures in Southern California in the 1960s, before pursuing his dream and planting a vineyard. Corley established his vineyard in 1969 in the cooler southern end of the Napa Valley, now known as the Oak Knoll District. In 1981, after more than a decade of growing and selling his grapes to other wineries, he built the winery at Monticello Vineyards and began to produce his own estate-grown wines.

Corley took great pride that the winery he founded has entered into its second generation, with the third generation showing early interest in the family wine business. Corley is survived by his wife Joan Corley, brothers Todd Corley and Paul Corley, his six sons Kevin, Kent, Mark, Michael, Stephen, Chris and his daughter Carolyn and their families and 12 grandchildren.