This week I have the great pleasure of talking at length with Jordan Wineries Executive Winemaker Rob Davis.
Established in 1972, Jordan Vineyard & Winery was inspired by the great wine estates of France and created as an homage to the timeless connection between food, wine and hospitality. A relentless commitment to this tenet helped make Jordan one of the top Cabernet Sauvignon brands in California.
Founders Tom and Sally Jordan were maverick pioneers with a unique vision. They wanted to be the first to create a Bordeaux-style California Cabernet Sauvignon that was approachable while young yet aged gracefully. Located in Sonoma’s Alexander Valley, the home for their wine would be an extraordinary winery chateau combining winemaking facilities, guest suites, and kitchen and dining areas under one roof. The couple set a standard for American wine quality and wine country hospitality—a top standard that is still held at Jordan today—making it one of the best Sonoma wineries to visit in Healdsburg.
Under the guidance of second-generation vintner John Jordan and Rob Davis, the winemaker whose hands have crafted every vintage of Jordan since the inaugural 1976, Jordan Vineyard & Winery continues to innovate and elevate through award-winning wines and hospitality. From advancements in fruit sourcing, oak aging, precision farming and conserving natural resources to diversifying agriculture and creating new visitor experiences at our Healdsburg winery, Jordan maintains a relentless quest to improve with every vintage.
Rob Davis holds the rare distinction amongst California winemakers of working at one winery for his entire winemaking career—more than 40 years. His tremendous technical background, empirical wisdom, desire for discovery, and meticulous quality standards remain a guiding force in the vineyards and cellars at Jordan Winery.
Upon graduation from University of California at Davis in 1976, Davis began working hand-in-hand with famous Napa Valley winemaker André Tchelistcheff, consulting enologist at Jordan Winery, to craft the inaugural vintage of Jordan Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. With his fermentation science degree in hand, Davis was excited about the opportunity to apprentice under America’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker and one of the best winemakers in California history. “I went to two schools to learn about winemaking,” Davis says. “The school at Davis and the school of André Tchelistcheff.”
Learn more at www.jordanwinery.com
Good Life Guy’s Wine of The Week: The Wines of Jordan
