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Q & A with JOHN JORDAN
There's a new face at Jordan Winery, but it's anything but unfamiliar. Tom Jordan, who founded the winery in the early '70s, has turned over the winery to his son, John Jordan. John, who officially took the reins in 2005, is now working to further the legacy of Jordan Winery, staying true to its roots but also leading the business unequivocally into the future of modern winemaking.
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You grew up at the winery. How has that affected where you are now?
While I did spend many years at the winery while growing up, I have been very fortunate to be able to gain a large amount of outside experience. After high school, I received my B.A. at Occidental College in Los Angeles. I continued my education by attending law school and receiving my J.D. from Empire College School of Law and an M.B.A. from the University of San Francisco. And before I returned to the winery as CEO, I was successfully practicing law. The winery and my family have always been my home though, and I'm happy to be able to come full circle and be home again.
What are your other interests?
Anyone who talks with me for more than five minutes will quickly discover my four biggest passions: Wine, family, flying and fishing. Wine is obvious, since it has been part of my life since I was born. Of course, I really enjoy sharing a bottle with my family. I have dinner at my dad's house quite often—at least four nights a week—and I love that I have
the opportunity to share this time with him. Next is definitely flying. I received my pilot's license when I was 18 years old, and it's been my favorite hobby ever since. As for fishing, we have a lake on the Jordan property that is filled with largemouth bass, so I'm lucky to have one of my favorite fishing holes within walking distance.
What kinds of conversations happen around the Jordan family's table?
Funny enough, our dinner conversations rarely have anything to do with the winery. Dad and I are both avid history buffs, focusing mostly on 20th century history, from the Russian Revolution to the Cold War. We are always exchanging books, theories and new discoveries. Actually, to be fair, it's more Dad giving me books to read than the other way around.
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What are some of the things you're currently focusing on at the winery?
We've recently taken steps to improve our hospitality operation. Jordan Vineyard & Winery has always had a reputation for creating a luxurious experience for our guests, but it's never good to rest on your reputation. When you visit our estate, you leave your worries behind. We've also worked to renew our focus on our attention to detail. Improving all of the little things helps to create the ultimate guest experience at the winery, and we know how important that is. As a former naval officer, I have an eye for detail, and I bring that type of detail conscious mentality to the job. Essentially, we took a clean sheet of paper to the whole visitor experience and conducted an overhaul to make it more interesting, fun and unique.
What makes Jordan wines different from other California wines?
We've always fought to keep Jordan Winery true to its original vision, staying away from trends and fads in the market. Jordan is about the marriage of food and wine, and our wines are never about being big, over-the-top Cabernet Sauvignon or super buttery Chardonnay. Instead, our wines are designed to enhance the flavor of the food, not dominate it. We look for a balance in our wines, and introduce a higher acid to allow this marriage between food and wine to work most effectively.
How do you see the future of Jordan Winery?
At the end of the day, we simply want to be the best Jordan Winery that we can be. Our winemaking staff, led by Rob Davis since the winery's first vintage in 1976, is passionate about ensuring that we are making the best wine that we can, year after year. To be able to do this successfully, we allow our team the flexibility to try new techniques, new vineyards, new blends—whatever they need—all with the focus of producing a wine that maintains our style and roots. My mission in life is to ensure the survival of my dad's legacy, and I will do everything I can to make sure that happens.
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