How can a winery that only crafts two wines become an icon California winery and maintain that legendary status for forty years? Jordan Winery has accomplished this through focusing on crafting wines of balance, elegance, and a great ability to pair with food. Truly a winning combination!

In 1972, Tom and Sally Jordan had a unique vision of creating the first Bordeaux style California Cabernet Sauvignon. They dreamed of creating a chateau with an exceptional winemaking facility while also housing a wonderful dining and accommodation experience for guests. These dreams were all achieved with the release of Jordan’s inaugural vintage in 1976. Today, the Jordan name is synonymous with elegantly crafted wines and wonderful hospitality. However, Jordan does not rest on their laurels. Instead “Jordan maintains a relentless quest to improve with every vintage.”

I have had a heart for Jordan wines for two decades. Jordan has always impressed me with the simple elegance of their wines. Furthermore, their winemaking philosophy of balanced wines that are elegantly crafted for enjoyment with friends, family, and food pairs well with my wine drinking philosophy. Therefore, I jumped at the opportunity to participate in #SonomaChat featuring 40 years of Jordan.

“What I look for in a great harvest is definition of fruit. What we look for in a growing season is lack of extremes.” ~ Rob Davis, Winemaker, Jordan Winery

2014 Jordan Winery Chardonnay Russian River Valley USA ($32): spun gold in the glass; aromas of crisp pears are met with notes of tropical fruit and marzipan; silky smooth on the palate with bright, mouth-watering natural acidity segueing into a basket of tart orchard and citrus, beautifully balanced wine with an elegant structure that easily pleases those who prefer a non-buttery Chardonnay; fresh and long on the palate, tart finish that leaves the mouth begging for another sip, such a perennially beautiful expression of a Chablis style Chardonnay, if they could all only be this good…. Click here to buy direct, or here to locate near you.

“Best vintage I ever experienced as a wine maker was 2012.” ~ Rob Davis, Winemaker, Jordan Winery

2012 Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley USA ($55): Crafted of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 2% Malbec; deep ruby with scarlet hues; opens with notes of red berries, cassis, delicate touch of spice, supple on the palate with a silky texture of integrated tannins leaving a juicy mouth-feel that wraps the palate, full-body, long, smooth finish; this wine has great length, truly a beautiful wine. Click here to buy direct or here to find near you.

For those of you who too have enjoyed Jordan wines over the years no doubt you have noticed a certain consistency in their wines. Winemaker Rob Davis explains the key to Jordan wines being consistently great year to year is, “we put a lot of love into every bottle.” That explains it!

In true Jordan winery form I paired each of these wines with food for the #SonomaChat tasting. It was a busy Wednesday so the meal was quick but still delicious. As great as these two wines were with dinner they are also perfectly enjoyable to sip on their own.

Another great pairing with Jordan wines is a good book. In August at the Wine Bloggers Conference, Lisa Mattson, Director of Marketing and Communications at Jordan Winery, blessed me with a copy of her book The Exes in My Glass. The book is a memoire of Lisa’s life told with depth of honesty, humor, and courage. It is at times funny, sad, moving, intriguing, and sexy. It is an engaging book that provides insight to Lisa’s journey from small town Kansas to a great life, career, and husband in Sonoma. Most of all it is definitely a book to enjoy with a good bottle of Jordan wine. Furthermore, this is a great book for book clubs and as a gift to your wine lover friend who has everything. Get your copy from Amazon by clicking here.

*Disclosure: Jordan wine samples were provided to me for #Sonomachat. The Exes in My Glass was given to me by the author. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Join #Sonomachat each Wednesday at 7pm CST on Twitter to explore the great wines, food, and hospitality of Sonoma. To learn more about Jordan Winery visit their web site and their award winning blog Wine Country Table.

My Song Selection: Jordan wines are fresh and modern yet classic in style and conception. They appeal to millennials and their parents with the same ease. They are drinkable upon purchase and age beautifully. There is something for everyone to love in these lovely wines.

Get your own bottles of Jordan wine and let me know what song you pair with them. Cheers!