Jordan Winery Chateau during construction
Jordan Winery Chateau during construction

Building the dream

Armed with French architecture books and vivid memories from trips to the best wineries in Bordeaux, they secured the services of San Francisco architect Bob Arrigoni to realize their vision. The collaboration resulted in a blueprint for a 58,000-square-foot French-inspired chateau. They broke ground in 1975, and miraculously, the production wing of the winery—including 12 towering 6,000-gallon oak tanks—was finished one week before the first harvest of Jordan Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon in 1976. These historic vats are central to the Jordan winemaking philosophy.

Old world elegance,
new world hospitality

It took a few more years for the Jordans to fully realize their food-focused concept of winery entertaining. In 1979, construction of the chateau’s hospitality wing was finally complete—just in time for the release of the inaugural 1976 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon. The dining room overlooked the oak cask room, a gourmet kitchen abutted the cellars and three guest suites opened to the barrel rooms. The thoughtful design integrating hospitality and wine production captured France’s old-world elegance in every detail. Jordan remains one of the only California wineries with lodging where you can stay overnight and wake up with a view of the wine barrels.

Apart from a small addition to the kitchen, the unique chateau’s original footprint has remained untouched, a testament to the Jordans’ foresight. While the ivy-covered chateau looks unchanged on the outside, major investments in energy efficiency and hospitality have occurred in recent years. Bacchus Courtyard, the Library, Cellar Room and all three guest suites were renovated during the pandemic. Guests can explore the Winery Chateau and its new, old-world look on the Library Tasting or a Winery Tour & Tasting.

Oak cask room at Jordan Winery
Interior of a guest suite at Jordan Winery
Ariel view of Jordan Winery
Looking down into the Bacchus Courtyard at Jordan Winery
Exterior of the Chateau at Jordan Winery
Dining Room at Jordan Winery
Oak cask room at Jordan Winery
Interior of a guest suite at Jordan Winery
Ariel view of Jordan Winery
Looking down into the Bacchus Courtyard at Jordan Winery
Exterior of the Chateau at Jordan Winery
Dining Room at Jordan Winery