The Chateau at Jordan Vineyard & Winery
1474 Alexander Valley Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Website: https://www.jordanwinery.com/
Visiting Jordan Winery is truly an event. Since I usually only get to go out to wine country once a year, I try to maximize my time and visit several tasting rooms. Sometimes I will pick one place where I want to spend extra time on a tour or special tasting, and for the rest of the trip I go to drop-in places. After visiting Jordan, I would recommend giving yourself ample time – at least a couple hours – to take full advantage of everything to see on the property.
This winery was founded by Tom and Sally Jordan in 1972. It is now run by their son John. The Jordans were inspired by wine estates in France that focus on the connection between food, wine, and hospitality. They built a 58,000 sq. foot chateau with combined wine-making facilities, guest suites, a kitchen and dining areas. Visitors can actually stay on the property in one of the suites. You need to plan ahead if you are visiting Jordan because they do not take drop ins and reservations fill up well in advance during the busy seasons. Jordan offers a few different “intimate” tasting experiences. All of the tours include food and wine tastings. Jordan produces a Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and champagne called Jordan Cuvée. An interesting fact we learned while on the tour is that winemaker Rob Davis has crafted every vintage since the first production in 1976. That’s pretty impressive!
The Cask Room at Jordan Winery
My husband and I signed up for the winery tour and library tasting. The tour included a walk around the chateau while our host provided the history of the winery. We started outdoors looking out at the vineyards. The chateau overlooks 1200 acres of rolling hills. The Jordans practice sustainable farming with a focus on conserving the land and preserving natural habitats. Cattle, birds, and other animals like rabbits and turkeys roam the property. There is also an onsite garden and olive trees. After exploring outside, we went inside for an hors d’oeuvre in the cask room with a glass of Chardonnay. The cask room contains twelve 6,000 gallon oak casks. After touring the property we sat down in the library for a wine pairing with cheese and small bites. We ended the tour back in the chateau where we could purchase wine or the estate olive oil. I enjoyed the overall experience. It felt like a little piece of France in Sonoma, CA. For a deeper view of the estate, the winery offers another tour that ventures into the vineyards as well as the chef‘s garden with an al fresco tasting.
One other feature of the winery that I found interesting is their unique rewards program. They do not a have traditional wine club. Instead, anyone who signs up for the mailing list can earn rewards points. You’ll get your first points just by joining the list and taking a tour. There’s no obligation to purchase wine. You’ll get emails of releases, recipes, and upcoming events. When you do make a purchase you will earn points to be used toward special perks at the winery like dinner events or a stay on property. If you are planning a visit, I recommend checking the events page on their website to see if they are offering any seasonal events, vineyard hikes, or special dinners when you visit.
The Library Tasting at Jordan Winery