I’ve visited Jordan Winery many times over the years and each time I visit I think it couldn’t get any better…but then it does. During the pandemic, proprietor John Jordan saw the slow times as an opportunity to embark on a $1 million remodel that retains his parent’s original vision for old-world luxury lodging.
Jordan’s guest suites made their debut in 1979 and have remained the gold standard of winery hospitality for decades. Winery overnight stays are available exclusively to Gold and Platinum members of Jordan Estate Rewards and they are on par with some of the most elite hotel rooms of Europe.
Interior Designer Maria Haidamus of San Francisco, in collaboration with Loczi Design Group led the renovation. Haidamus was tasked with honoring the architectural features of each room and keeping Sally Jordan’s Louis XV French antiques, while modernizing the guest suites with a floor-to-ceiling bathroom remodel. Also, adding furniture from the XVI and XIII periods which John Jordan is drawn to.
The amenities in the guest suites are top-notch and include house-made elevated snacks and an armoire entertainment center featuring a record player. Upon arrival in the afternoon, there was a bottle of chilled Jordan Chardonnay waiting for us and in the evening we enjoyed a spot of house-made Jordan Estate foraged tea.
The following morning, we enjoyed a delightful breakfast that was delivered to our suite and it included a pot of creamy yogurt with berries, an assortment of pastries, freshly squeezed orange juice, and French press coffee.
Later that morning we experienced a Vineyard Tasting and it started in the redesigned courtyard that resembles a French country garden. Plants suitable for a Mediterranean climate surround a 16th-century bronze statue of Bacchus, the Roman God of Wine. In the corner there’s a 20th-century, Renaissance-style marble fountain that puts one at ease with the soothing sound of water.
On the Vineyard Tour we sipped three vintages of Jordan Cabernets, spanning a decade and a crisp Chardonnay. The wines were paired with artisanal salumi from Journeyman Meat Co., Marcona almonds, and marinated olives with Jordan Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil, citrus and fennel.
Other updates that happened include the wood-paneled salon where the Library Tasting experience begins. It was transformed into a curated library filled with vintage books about food, wine, travel, hospitality, flora and fauna, as well as many of John’s personal interests, including aviation and fishing. Since we had booked a winery overnight stay, we had access to the Library and sat down for a quiet “reading hour” by the fireplace.
In addition, the Cellar Room was transformed the space into an old-world wine cellar, featuring a custom-built wood table for up to 12 guests, Louis XIII nail-head chairs, 17th-century French medieval chandeliers, and antique French winemaking and cooking tools. There’s a beautiful backdrop of 800-plus bottles of cellared Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon.
Overall, when at Jordan you feel a mix of the old with the new – whether it be methods of wine making or features throughout the property. Jordan seems to be an homage to the old-world traditions of lovingly prepared food, gracious hospitality and of course, great wine. Their spacious suites and elegant dining room are at the heart of their efforts to preserve these traditions that otherwise might be looked over in this fast-paced world.
