Alexander Valley · Est. 1972
Jordan Winery
Alexander Valley’s French-inspired chateau. Five decades of Cabernet Sauvignon built for the dinner table.
Jordan Winery was founded in 1972 by Tom Jordan, an oil and gas investor who had fallen in love with Bordeaux during travels through France. He purchased 1,200 acres in the Alexander Valley and built a French-inspired chateau modeled on the estates of the Medoc. The winery has made exactly two wines in every vintage since its first release: an Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and a Russian River Valley Chardonnay. Both are designed for the dinner table, built for balance and structure rather than maximum concentration, and are among the most food-friendly wines produced in Sonoma County.
The Estate: A French Chateau in Healdsburg
The Jordan estate covers 1,200 acres of rolling Alexander Valley hills, with 115 acres planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Tom Jordan built the chateau in 1976 in a style consciously influenced by the wine estates of Bordeaux, with the same low-slung limestone exterior, formal gardens, and working winery integrated into the building. The estate produces olive oil under the Jordan Estate label, with award-winning extra-virgin olive oil pressed from estate-grown arbequina and mission olives. Executive chef Todd Knoll runs a culinary program that draws on the same philosophy as the wines: local, seasonal, and built for pairing.
Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: Balance Over Power
The Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon is made in a deliberately restrained style that deliberately departs from the ripe, concentrated wines that dominated California Cabernet in the 1990s and 2000s. Winemaker Mick Joiner, at the estate since 2012, targets natural acidity, moderate tannin, and aromatic clarity over maximum extraction. The wine is typically 70-80% Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot and small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Malbec. It ages 14 months in French oak barrels, 30-40% new. The result is a wine that opens easily at five years, peaks between ten and fifteen, and remains structured and elegant at twenty.
The Chardonnay: Russian River Valley Restraint
While the winery sits in the Alexander Valley, the Jordan Chardonnay is made from Russian River Valley fruit, sourced from the cooler western end of the appellation. The wine undergoes partial malolactic fermentation, enough to soften the texture without dulling the natural acidity. New oak is used sparingly, typically 20-25%, to add complexity without masking the fruit. The result is a Chardonnay in the same genre as white Burgundy: linear, mineral, restrained, and built to complement food rather than impress at a tasting. It drinks well on release and holds beautifully for five to seven years.
Visiting Jordan: Chateau Tours and Wine Country Dining
Jordan offers some of Sonoma County’s most refined hospitality experiences. The estate chateau tour covers the winery, the cave, and the property grounds, concluding with a tasting of current releases. The wine and food pairing experience, hosted in the chateau’s dining room with seasonal dishes from executive chef Todd Knoll, is among the most memorable tasting room experiences in California. Experiences are by reservation, and the most popular formats book weeks in advance. Jordan is best visited as an intentional destination, not a casual stop.
Plan Your Visit
1474 Alexander Valley Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448
90 minutes north of San Francisco via Hwy 101 to Alexander Valley Road east of Healdsburg.
Estate chateau tours by reservation. Book well in advance for weekend availability.
Seasonal wine and food pairing lunches hosted in the chateau dining room. Reserve at jordanwinery.com.
By appointment. Typically open daily 9am-4pm for tours and tastings.
Jordan Estate extra-virgin olive oil available at the winery. Made from arbequina and mission olives grown on the estate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon different from other Sonoma Cabs?
Jordan Cabernet is intentionally built for balance and longevity rather than immediate impact. Winemaker Mick Joiner harvests earlier than many Alexander Valley producers, targeting natural acidity that most California Cabernet lacks. The wine is blended with Merlot and Cab Franc in the Bordeaux tradition, aged in mostly neutral French oak to avoid masking the fruit, and released at 4-5 years of age when it is just beginning to open. It is a wine designed for the dinner table and for the cellar, not the tasting room.
How many wines does Jordan Winery make?
Jordan makes exactly two wines: the Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and the Russian River Valley Chardonnay. This has been true since the first vintage in 1976. The focus on two wines rather than a large portfolio reflects the winery’s belief that consistency and mastery of a specific style requires singular focus.
How long does Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon age?
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon is released at 4-5 years of age and is typically ready to drink on release. It peaks between 10-15 years from vintage and holds well for 20 years in proper storage. Older library vintages, available through the winery, demonstrate this aging capacity clearly. The 2006, 2008, and 2012 vintages are frequently cited as exceptional by collectors.
Who is the winemaker at Jordan Winery?
Mick Joiner has been the winemaker at Jordan since 2012. He worked previously at several other Sonoma County wineries and brought a more restrained, food-focused style to the lineup. John Jordan, son of founder Tom Jordan, leads the estate overall and has been closely involved in the direction of the wine program since the mid-2000s.
Does Jordan Winery offer food experiences?
Yes. Jordan offers wine and food pairing experiences hosted in the chateau dining room with seasonal menus prepared by executive chef Todd Knoll. The kitchen uses produce from the estate garden and from local Sonoma County farms. This is one of the few truly complete wine country dining experiences in Sonoma, comparable to what you would find at a Napa Valley estate restaurant.
Is Jordan Winery worth the drive from San Francisco?
Jordan is about 90 minutes from San Francisco and is best visited as a dedicated half-day or full-day experience rather than a quick stop. The chateau setting, the wine and food pairing, and the quality of the wines make it one of the most complete estate visits in Sonoma County. Combine it with a night in Healdsburg and tastings at nearby Alexander Valley wineries to get the most from the drive.
Guide researched and written by the Popular Wines editorial team. Information verified against official winery sources.
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