search.noResults

search.searching

note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
“Sparkling wine is a family tradition, one that we had no intention of abandoning.”


During this time, Jordan and J operated independently although the two wineries shared sales teams and also typically sold their wines through the same distributors. Jordan proudly served J sparkling at winery receptions, formal events and winemaker dinners, always calling J the “sister property.”


“Offering guests our J sparkling wine as an aperitif and as a toast for celebratory occasions elevated the guest experience at Jordan,” winery co-founder Sally Jordan said. “It’s a grand tradition and one that we readily adopted as a de rigueur part of our hospitality.”


On March 23, 2015, the end of an era arrived. Judy Jordan announced that J Vineyards & Winery had been purchased by the E&J Gallo corporation. A barrage of news stories and official announcements from the buyer and seller ensued, but they overlooked J’s beginning at Jordan Winery and Tom Jordan’s role in the creation of the brand.


“At this point in her career I understand Judy’s desire to make a lifestyle change,” said John Jordan, CEO of Jordan Winery. Judy, who is older than her brother by more than a decade, has two children both of whom have interests outside of the wine industry. “We’re at different stages in our lives and have different management styles.”


Given the long tradition of sparkling wine as an essential part of hospitality at Jordan, the void left by the sale of J was destined to be filled. “Sparkling wine is a family tradition, one that we had no intention of abandoning,” John said.


However alluring, the prospect of making sparkling wine again at Jordan wasn’t feasible. “I couldn’t squeeze another drop of wine out of this facility if I tried,” John said. “We are at maximum capacity, and we want to remain focused on our still wines.” Owing to highly-specialized equipment and time-consuming production methods, new sparkling producers rarely enter the market. Most of the new domestic sparkling brands are made at custom crush facilities, such as Rack & Riddle in Sonoma County. “We didn’t want to outsource our production,” John said. “It just isn’t in keeping with who we are.”


Rob soon set out to find an independent Champagne house they could partner with. “It had to be a family who shares our values and our philosophies about winemaking style,” John said. Rob began researching family houses and grower Champagnes. Blind tastings were conducted with Jordan winemaking, sales, marketing and guest services staff to narrow the field.


The easy route would have been to contract one of the co- operatives or growers who were eager to create a private label for Jordan, but that form of outsourcing struck John as a soulless, commercial approach, one that he had already rejected. Despite his efforts, the Champagne acquisition project for Jordan had slowed to a crawl.


20


Vacations have a history of inspiring the Jordan team, and in February 2016, while Rob was spending a few days in Paris visiting a long-time friend, Tim Johnston, the project sprang to life. Rob shared details of the project with Tim, the founder of Juveniles Wine Bar, and expressed his desire to find a family in Champagne with which to collaborate on a special cuvée. Within five minutes, Tim, who interned at Jordan in 1980, secured an appointment at Champagne AR Lenoble for the next day.


The following morning, Rob took a train to Epernay to meet Anne Malassagne and her brother, Antoine, who directs the viticulture and winemaking at AR Lenoble. “It was like three kids playing in a sandbox,” said Rob, who found they shared many common values and philosophies from independent ownership and focus on intensity of fruit and balance in the wines to extended bottle aging, sustainability and adaptive farming practices. “We’re aligned in the way we pursue winegrowing and winemaking,” he said.


AR Lenoble is one of the very rare producers in Champagne that has been consistently family owned throughout its entire history. The winery was established in 1920 by Armand-Raphaël Graser, who had moved from Alsace to the village of Damery in Champagne during the First World War.


Today, AR Lenoble is jointly owned and operated by Graser’s great grandchildren, siblings Anne and Antoine. These fourth- generation vintners took the reins from their father in the mid- 1990s: Anne in 1993 at age 28 with her younger brother Antoine joining her three years later. The family owns 18 hectares in Champagne, including 10 hectares in the grand cru village of Chouilly on the Côte des Blancs, six hectares in the premier cru village of Bisseuil between Mareuil-sur-Ay and Tours-sur-Marne and 2.5 hectares in Damery near the house of AR Lenoble.


Shortly after the 2016 harvest and during one of the first trade tastings of Jordan Cuvée, Antoine shared his views on AR Lenoble’s house style. “Chardonnay from Chouilly is Champagne’s Puligny-Montrachet, and our round, rich and creamy house style reflects that.” Antoine prefers large-format, neutral barrels for aging and a more aerobic style of winemaking that lets the vintage speak.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48
Produced with Yudu - www.yudu.com