More than 300 LA-area restaurateurs, retailers, sommeliers, press, tastemakers and celebrities turned out to commemorate Jordan Vineyard & Winery’s 40th anniversary at a private event on The London West Hollywood rooftop on April 23. Hosted by winery CEO John Jordan and winemaker Rob Davis, the event drew many VIPs, including Jimmy Stafford, Scott Underwood and Hector Maldonado of the superstar band Train, professional soccer player Landon Donovan of the Los Angeles Galaxy and the U.S. Men’s National Team, noted comedian and “Chelsea Lately” regular Ben Gleib, comedian Ben Morrison of “Punk’d” and “Last Comic Standing,” comedian Daryl Wright, Fox News Network “Fox & Friends Weekend” host Juliet Huddy, top producer Randall Winston (“Cougar Town,” “Scrubs,” “Spin City”), noted model Tinka Milinovic, restaurateur Piero Selvaggio of Valentino, chef Joe Miller of Joe’s and Bar Pintxo, Kathryn Romeyn of Los Angeles Confidential, Anthony Dias Blue of The Tasting Panel and many more. Jordan Winery 4 on 4 Los Angeles Art Competition winners Agne Jomantaite, Kristi Lippire, Mark Dean Veca and Kremena Ivanova were also in attendance.

Guests enjoyed tastings of Jordan’s new vintages (2010 Chardonnay and 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon—releasing nationally May 1), as well as big bottles and standard formats of Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon (1979 6 liter, 2001 3 liter, 2005 1.5 liter, 2002 750ml), fabulous food by Gordon Ramsay (mango-lobster crepes, ahi poke wontons, filet mignon potato rounds, crab cakes, angus sliders, vegan samosas), views from the London Hotel’s legendary rooftop and poolside cabana bottle service. Additionally the Los Angeles winners of the Jordan 4 on 4 Art Competition event, hosted April 11 at Hadid Gallery in West Hollywood, also exhibited their work.

Additional celebrity photos available for viewing on wire service websites, including Getty Images, Wire Image, Film Magic and PR Photos.

40th Anniversary Retrospective Tasting & Luncheon

A few hours before the rooftop party, John Jordan and Winemaker Rob Davis co-hosted a retrospective tasting and luncheon for 25 members of the trade and press at Gordon Ramsay at The London, which featured 10 vintages back to Jordan’s inaugural 1976 Cabernet Sauvignon (1977, 1981, 1988, 1990 1999, 2001 and 2008, as well as a 2005 super blend never released and 2006 Ducru Beaucaillou), followed by a three-course lunch by paired with Premier Cru White Burgundies and Jordan Chardonnay.

Don’t miss our other 40th anniversary celebration highlights from Miami, New York and Dallas.

Nearly 250 local tastemakers, wine lovers and art aficionados turned out in downtown Dallas for two days of celebration in honor of Jordan Vineyard & Winery’s 40^th anniversary, reveling in rare vintage tastings and an inventive art competition event awarding $8,000 in cash to local artists.

4 on 4 Dallas Art Competition Exhibition

A family-owned winery well-known in Texas for its food-friendly Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, Jordan kicked off its 40th birthday festivities in Texas with the 4 on 4 Dallas Art Competition, part of a coast-to-coast, four-city initiative to marry the distinct flavors of metropolitan cities with the essence of Jordan wines and Sonoma wine country. RISING Gallery on Jackson Street, owned by Bryan and Taber Wetz, hosted the Dallas-Fort Worth call to entries, culminating in a one-night-only public exhibition and Jordan wine tasting, which was hosted by D Magazine, and presented 20 stunning works of art that highlighted diverse painting techniques and talents—and featured distinctively Dallas elements, from the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and Reunion Tower to cowboy boots and horses. The event took place April 24 with approximately 150 guests in attendance—local Jordan wine fans, D subscribers, art aficionados, local tastemakers and the artists themselves. Guests sipped on 2009 Jordan Chardonnay and 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon paired with delicious hors d’oeuvres (coconut-crusted lobster tail skewers, Texas goat cheese truffles, beef kabobs, shaved tenderloin on crostini) by Doug Boster Catering. The panel of expert judges for the competition included Dawn Neufeld, a star on VH1’s “Football Housewives”; Peter Simek, arts editor for D Magazine; Susan Roth Romans, owner and curator at Ro2 Art; Veletta Lill, executive director of Dallas Arts District; Cris Worley, director of Cris Worley Fine Arts; and James Beard Award-nominated chef and restaurateur Kent Rathbun. The anticipation was palpable as the judges handed in their top three choices.

The grand award winner of the 4 on 4 Art Dallas was artist Todd Ford, an oil painting specialist whose style is similar to photorealism. Ford personally took his reference photo versus using stock photography. It took, “LOTS of trial and error with exposure and shutter speed,” Ford says. According to the artist, the “Jordan” tie-in is obvious; the “Dallas” tie-in is a little less so. “I included a portion of the Dallas skyline in the wine.” Ford won $5,000, and his work of art will be transformed into a limited-edition piece for Jordan’s loyal Dallas fan base.

First runner-up honors went to contemporary artist Douglas Winters, who considers his two great passions art and nature. “In this work, I endeavor to cultivate an intimate bond between Jordan Winery in Alexander Valley, California, and Dallas, Texas, by partnering natural and architectural details, color and definition of space, thus uniting the elements into an embracing relationship,” Winters says. “The composition displaces the typical chateau on the wine bottle with the skyline of Dallas, Texas.  The chateau is then transformed into the distinguished focal point of the work. This arrangement ties the symbiotic relationship together by incorporating the Jordan wine bottle with the chimney of the chateau, as if they were one.” Winters was presented a check in the amount of $2,000.

Artist Leighton Autrey took home the second-runner up prize of $1,000. Twenty-seven-year-old Autrey is a graffiti-based artist who was recruited to play Major League Baseball but his mother’s battle with skin cancer steered him toward an artistic passion closer to home. Autrey brought his urban technics within the undertones of his painting. For the competition, he chose to focus on a more poster-like composition and created a “WOW” effect with the size of his work, a 48”x 60” acrylic on canvas. His Dallas skyline was implemented into a “pouring of the wine effect” over his graffiti undertones in a hot pink, sophisticated, final masterpiece.

Patrons got to vote for their favorites as well. The People’s Choice went to Steve Hamilton, a 27-year-old artist who used an intricate spray paint and stencil technique to make a stunning black-and-white painting featuring quintessential cowboy boots and a bottle of Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon.

4 on 4 Dallas Art Competition Entries:

At the 4 on 4 Dallas Top 20 event, RISING Gallery worked with the artists to set a price of $950 for any work of art purchased the evening of the event. John Jordan and his staff, who said they were “blown away” by the talent in Dallas, personally purchased four paintings themselves. The remaining artwork from the show will be available for purchase at the event price through April 30. For more information, please email Bryan or Taber Wetz at info@risinggallery.com or call 214-559-4158.

40th Anniversary Retrospective Tasting & Luncheon

On April 25, 25 customers, distributors, media and friends retreated to The Joule Hotel penthouse suite for retrospective wine tasting of Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon hosted by Winemaker Rob Davis and CEO John Jordan. Davis, who has crafted every vintage of Jordan, engaged guests with his vivid descriptions of each vintage (inaugural 1976, 1981, 1998, 1999, 2002, a 2005 super blend never released to public, 2008)—most bottles pulled from John Jordan’s private cellar.

40th Anniversary Rooftop Party

The third and final component was an exclusive poolside cocktail party at the uber-chic Poule at The Joule, also held on April 25. Nearly 100 guests mingled as they sipped on Jordan wines, including a six-liter bottle of 1979 Jordan Cabernet, a three-liter bottle of the 2001 vintage and previews of the 2010 Jordan Chardonnay and 2008 Jordan Cabernet, which release nationally on May 1. Guests indulged in delectable hors d’oeuvres by Charlie Palmer at The Joule, such as salmon tartare, smoked short rib fritters, lamb meatballs and melon skewers, as well as an array of Sonoma cheeses selected by Jordan’s Executive Chef Todd Knoll. John Jordan and the Jordan staff greeted party-goers, which comprised Glazers Distributors management, restaurateurs, retailers, sommeliers, media, Jordan Estate Rewards members and local movers-and-shakers. In addition, the winning artists were recognized again and displayed their works for party guests.

The grand finale of Jordan Winery’s two-month-long 40th anniversary celebration will be hosted at the winery in Healdsburg on June 2: Giving Back at Jordan, an unprecedented philanthropic event leveraging the Causes.com social giving platform and benefiting three Bay Area charities.

Don’t miss our other 40th anniversary celebration highlights from Miami, New York and Los Angeles.

Nearly 300 tastemakers, wine consumers and art aficionados turned out in New York April 4-5 for two days of celebration in honor of Jordan Vineyard & Winery’s 40^th anniversary, reveling in rare vintage tastings and an inventive art competition that will award $10,000 in cash to New York artists this summer.

40th Anniversary Rooftop Party

Hosted at the PH-D Rooftop Lounge at Dream Downtown in Manhattan on April 5, the marquis event on Jordan Winery’s New York festivities welcomed nearly 250 sommeliers, restaurateurs, retailers, journalists, wine distributors and consumers for an unforgettable evening with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop. The event featured six-liter, three-liter and magnum bottles back to the 1979 vintage, as well as a preview of Jordan 2010 Chardonnay and 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, which will release nationally on May 1. Dream Downtown’s chef prepared passed hors d’oeuvres to pair with the wines, including tempura shrimp, veggie tacos, peekytoe crab cakes, kebobs and mini sliders. Bottle service throughout the lounge featured Jordan wines and Sonoma County cheeses selected by the Jordan chef. Finalists from the 4 on 4 New York Art Competition were also announced.

4 on 4 New York Art Competition Finalists

Part of a coast-to-coast, four-city initiative to marry the distinct flavors of metropolitan cities with the essence of Jordan wines and Sonoma wine country, the 4 on 4 New York Art Competition, organized by the New York Foundation for the Arts, will culminate this summer with a one-night-only public exhibition and Jordan wine tasting where the five finalists’ works and their proposed drawings will be featured. Further details will be posted on the 4 on 4 New York eventbrite page in early May.

40th Anniversary Retrospective Tasting & Luncheon

On April 5, John Jordan and Winemaker Rob Davis co-hosted a retrospective tasting and luncheon for 25 members of the trade and press at Ai Fiori restaurant, which featured 12 vintages back to Jordan’s inaugural 1976 Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by a three-course lunch by Chef Michael White paired with Premier Cru White Burgundies and Jordan Chardonnay.

Sherry Lehmann Master Class with Kevin Zraly

Winemaker Rob Davis also co-hosted a Master Class tasting with legendary wine educator and author Kevin Zraly at Sherry Lehmann Wine & Spirits on April 4. Thirty guests tasted through four decades of Jordan wines while listening to colorful stories from both Kevin and Rob.

Don’t miss our other 40th anniversary celebration highlights from Miami, Los Angeles and Dallas.

Now that our month-long 40th birthday party tour through Miami, New York, Los Angeles and Dallas is complete, we’ll begin focusing on our 40th anniversary celebration finale at the winery on June 2: Giving Back at Jordan. We hope to see you there!

Nearly 300 local tastemakers, wine lovers and art aficionados turned out in Miami for two days of celebration in honor of Jordan Vineyard & Winery’s 40^th anniversary, reveling in rare vintage tastings and an inventive art competition event awarding $8,000 in cash to local artists.

We kicked off our national 40th birthday festivities with the 4 on 4 Miami Art Competition, part of a coast-to-coast, four-city initiative to marry the distinct flavors of metropolitan cities with the essence of Jordan wines and Sonoma wine country. The Bakehouse Art Complex hosted the South Florida call to entries, culminating in a one-night-only public exhibition and Jordan wine tasting presenting the top 25 pieces, a.k.a. 4 on 4 Top 25. The event took place March 29 with approximately 200 people in attendance – from Jordan and Bakehouse members to art aficionados, local tastemakers and the artists themselves. The panel of expert judges included Roxanne Vargas, co-anchor of NBC Miami’s “Live Miami;” Nina Johnson, director at Gallery Diet; Susanne Birbragher, associate publisher of ArtNexus; and Chef Michael Schwartz, proprietor of Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink. The anticipation was palpable as the judges handed in their top three choices.

The grand award winner of the 4 on 4 Art Miami was Jordan Wine Goddess by artist and graphic designer Jeannette Aquino, who had not picked up a paint brush in two years. Oddly enough, Aquino’s piece almost didn’t make it into the competition, as the artist did not include her contact details with the submission, sending the Jordan team on a wild, but successful, hunt for Jeannette via Google search. Aquino won $5,000, and her work of art will be transformed into a limited-edition piece for Jordan’s loyal South Florida fan base.

First runner-up honors went to Casey Mae Wright’s Guard on Duty. Timing couldn’t have been better for Wright, a sculptor who had heard of the competition upon returning from a year-long visit to Tuscany, Italy. Inspired by the picturesque vineyard tucked away in the rolling foothills of Alexander Valley, Wright created a piece that “brought wine country to Miami,” while melding her recent experiences from Europe to create a truly memorable piece. Wright was presented a check in the amount of $2,000.

Gerry Stecca’s Thru the Vines took home the second-runner up prize of $1,000. Stecca, a Bakehouse member artist whose highly regarded sculptures have been exhibited by such notable institutions as the Frost Art Museum, created a vibrant painting with the winery chateau nestled amongst grapes and wine bottles.

Patrons got to vote as well, via an online ballot accessible through smart phones at the event. The People’s Choice went to Relaxing by the Beach with Jordan by former Bakehouse member artist Armando Chacon.

“The wine business is all about relationships, and when you’re not working to maintain them, you should be building them,” said John Jordan, chief executive officer and proprietor of Jordan Vineyard & Winery. Jordan did just that as he flew in to meet with a bevy of clients, media and friends for the retrospective wine tasting on April 2. Winemaker Rob Davis, who has crafted every vintage of Jordan, engaged guests with his vivid descriptions of each vintage, some so rare such as the inaugural 1976, they are saved for the utmost special occasions.

The third and final component was an exclusive poolside cocktail party at the uber-chic Soho Beach House, also held on April 2. More than 100 guests mingled as they sipped on Jordan wines, and indulged in delectable fare that fused Latin cuisine with California wine country ingredients from Jordan’s Executive Chef Todd Knoll. John Jordan and the Jordan staff greeted party-goers, which comprised media, esteemed clients and local movers-and-shakers. Guests even posed for photos “in wine country” via  an interactive green screen photo booth by the bar. In addition, the winning artists were recognized again and displayed their works for party guests.

Don’t miss our other 40th anniversary celebration highlights from New York, Los Angeles and Dallas.

With so many inquiring about the purchase of art works displayed during the 4 on 4 Top 25, the Bakehouse Art Complex plans to auction off these pieces online. Details around the auction are forthcoming and funds will benefit the Bakehouse and the artists directly.

For more information about the 4 on 4 Miami Art Competition, click here.

For more information about the 4 on 4 Art Competition, click here.

In honor of its 40th anniversary, Jordan Vineyard & Winery awarded $8,000 in cash prizes to Southern California artists as part of the iconic winery’s 4 on 4 Top 40 Art Competition exhibition event on April 11, which was organized by Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE) and drew nearly 200 local wine lovers, artists and epicures to trendy Hadid Gallery for an elegant evening of blending wine, food and art.

Part of a coast-to-coast, four-city initiative to marry the distinct flavors of metropolitan cities with the essence of Jordan wines and Sonoma wine country, the 4 on 4 Los Angeles Art Competition culminated in a one-night-only public exhibition and Jordan wine tasting presenting more than 40 entries, featuring works some of LA’s most exciting artists, including James Mathers, Justine Harari, Mattia Biagi, Kristi Lippire, Lindsey Nobel, Suzanne Adelman, Mark Dean Veca, Matt Wardell and many more.

A panel of expert judges—Carol Stakenas, director of LACE; noted critic and LA Canvas art editor Shana Nys Dambrot; Kat Odell, editor of LA Eater; David Gadd, managing editor of The Tasting Panel; renowned restaurateur Piero Selvaggio of Valentino Restaurant Group; Chef Joseph Miller of Joe’s Restaurant and Bar Pintxo; and Timothy Williams, artist and gallerist at Black Cat Gallery—selected the top three works of art that met the competition criteria. Guests mingled through the exhibition while sipping Jordan 2009 Chardonnay and 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon complemented by hors d’oeuvres from Bar Pintxo.

Carol Stakenas, the director of LACE, noted, “We were so excited to organize this competition with the LA art community, giving artists a fantastic opportunity that brought together the Los Angeles art scene and fine wine communities.”

The grand award winner of 4 on 4 Los Angeles was I Left My Heart In Jordan by Agne Jomantaite, a student at Occidental College, where Jordan Winery CEO John Jordan, ironically, did his undergraduate work. She is a noted artist on campus, has had work published and received several citations for her art. Jomantaite will receive a check for $5,000, and her work of art will be transformed into a limited-edition lithograph for Jordan’s loyal Southern California fan base.

First runner-up honors went to Mark Dean Veca’s The Elegant Fantasy of Jordan Chateau. Veca has exhibited throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan at institutions such as the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, PS 1 Contemporary Art Center, the Brooklyn Museum, the Bronx Museum of the Arts and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. His work has been reviewed in numerous publications, including The New York Times, Artforum, Art in America, Art Review, Juxtapoz and Flash Art. Veca will be presented a check in the amount of $2,000.

Kristi Lippire’s Unique Treasures of LA and Wine Country took home the second-runner up prize of $1,000. The Honolulu native has shown at ACE Gallery, the Riverside Art Museum, Pasadena’s Armory Center for the Arts, the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, the Orange County Museum of Art and elsewhere.

Patrons got to vote as well, each selecting a single favorite work of art in the 4 on 4 Los Angeles exhibit. The People’s Choice went to My Love by Kremena Ivanova. Ivanova describes her winning piece as “integrating the image of the movie industry, which is an emblem in LA. I used the film roll showing Jordan’s history, combined with the 40 year celebration, represented by the explosion from the end of the bottle.”

The three winning works from 4 on 4 Los Angeles will be on display at a private Jordan Winery 40^th anniversary celebration for restaurateurs, retailers and media to be held in West Hollywood on April 23.

For more information about the 4 on 4 Los Angeles Art Competition, please click here.

4 on 4 Los Angeles entries:

Sally Jordan tells then story of how she and Tom chose the bucolic Alexander Valley for the location of their Bordeaux-style wine back in 1972–and how the signing of the deed on their first piece of vineyard land on May 25, 1972, coincided with the birth of their son, John Jordan, who is now CEO of Jordan Vineyard & Winery.

We invite you to join in our 40th anniversary celebrations throughout the year, especially our live online wine tasting with John Jordan and Winemaker Rob Davis on May 23.

Congratulations to the winners of our Jordan in 40 Words essay contest:

Grand Prize ~
Patricia Nelson of Colorado for “Jordan wines: a family tradition and namesake”
Essay: In 1986 we named our first son after this great wine!  We bought a 1986 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon and saved it until his 21st birthday. That bottle moved and traveled with us many miles and was thoroughly enjoyed that day!

First Runner Up ~
Marshall Tilden III of New York for “My Epiphany Wine: The 1996 Jordan Cabernet”
Essay: Since my early teens, my father exposed me to the culture of wine. While I always enjoyed wine, it was not until I tasted the 1996 Jordan Cabernet that wine became part of my soul…truly a life changing event.

Second Runner Up ~
Carrie Jackson of Texas for “Reason to Celebrate”
Essay: Jordan is part of my life’s celebrations. Jordan was there the night my husband asked me to marry him as well as at our wedding.  I look forward to cellaring a 2010 vintage to commemorate the birth of my daughter.

Third Runner Up ~
Jordan Catapano of Wisconsin for “Toasting Togetherness”
Essay: My in-laws sold their home of 27 years to be near their grown children and growing grandchildren. The realtor’s closing gift was a Jordan Cabernet. To celebrate the move, our family all dined together, toasting kin, togetherness, and every generation’s bright future.

Each will receive a prize as noted in the original contest announcement:

GRAND AWARD ~ (1) Excalibur 3900 Deluxe Food Dehydrator
FIRST RUNNER-UP ~ (1) Jordan-engraved Riedel crystal decanter
SECOND RUNNER-UP ~ (1) Black Jordan-embroidered designer fleece jacket
THIRD RUNNER-UP ~ (1) Rosle Cheese Knife

Congratulations again to all our winners and a big thanks to everyone who submitted an essay. Stay tuned for news about our next online contest this summer.

Jordan is the first winery to be profiled by Apple, Inc. for our use of iPad tablet technology throughout the company. The official video profile was published on Apple.com and Apple’s iTunes iPad in Business channel last week.

CEO John Jordan and Viticulturist Brent Young discuss myriad uses of iPad at the winery and in the vineyard in the profile entitled, “From trellis to table with iPad. Classic winemaking, new technology.”

Our video is also spotlighted on the Apple profile home page this week.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The 2008 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon has a smooth, silky structure that showcases both the delicacy of the vintage and a spectrum of fruit flavors. Elegant aromas of cherries and plums open to a soft, silky mouthfeel of cherries, black fruits and cassis with a hint of spicy oak. Truly a vintage where veteran winemakers overcame Mother Nature’s challenges to produce beautiful wines, 2008 has made Winemaker Rob Davis very proud, as he describes in his tasting note video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Our 2010 Jordan Chardonnay is a delicate wine filled with subtle fruit and oak nuances to seduce the palate, as Winemaker Rob Davis describes in his tasting note video above. Aromas of fresh green and Fuji apples lead seamlessly to an elegant palate framed by lively acidity and a hint of oak from aging in French oak barrels. The cool temperatures and foggy mornings that lingered throughout the summer of 2010 enhanced the fruit flavors and bright acids in our Chardonnay grapes. Watch our 2010 Chardonnay grapes being hand-harvested at night.

These wines are available exclusively at jordanwinery.com until the official national release May 1, 2012.

Looking for a fun, festive way to decorate your Easter dinner table? Todd and I were discussing holiday table centerpiece ideas over dinner one night and came up with this colorful arrangement that brings the spirit of hunting for Easter eggs to your table.

The ground cover (grass or flowering thyme) can be purchased at Home Depot, Ace Hardware or your local nursery for a few dollars. You’ll probably need six squares of grass, depending on the size of your flower pot. Bonsai planter pots work great, as demonstrated in this video. Search “Bonsai pots” on Amazon, and you’ll find several different colors, shapes and sizes for under $15, but I prefer a single rectangular pot with an elegant pattern. Two smaller rounds or squares–like the blue ones from Bonsaipots.com for around $12–would also work great for a longer table. Decorate with glitter eggs, available at Michael’s or any craft store, or go with a more natural look using quail eggs, which you can purchase at your local gourmet market. To bring dessert into your centerpiece, try chocolate Easter eggs wrapped in colorful foils.

Make sure to use a bottom tray so that the flower pot doesn’t leak water on your table.

Enjoy the holiday!

One of the best parts of producing our annual magazine, Estate Tales, is taking a step back to reflect on how all the words and photos came together in the final design. To celebrate the debut of our 2012 edition of Estate Tales, we created a behind-the-scenes video showing the making of this magazine. We hope you enjoy watching these stories come to life as much as we enjoy sharing them.

2012 Estate Tales feature story highlights include:

• The Art of Blending Wine
• Discovering Dehydration in the Modernist Kitchen
• Blending Elegant Flavors with Exotic Spices
• Cloud Farming with iPads
• The Cows Come Home
• The Chateau Boutique 

Print editions of Estate Tales are complimentary to our daily tour and tasting guests and winery event attendees, beginning April 1. You can also explore the 2012 Estate Tales online anytime via computer, smart phone or tablet.

For the second year, we worked with Los Angeles-based photographer Matt Armendariz and couldn’t be happier with the results.

What do you think of the new Estate Tales?

Inspired by my wife’s Greek family heritage, this Roasted Leg of Lamb recipe makes for a fun, festive main course at a winter dinner party, with its warm spices and rich flavors. The sumac dry rub–product of tinkering with my newest kitchen gadget, a dehydrator–is easy to prepare in advance and brings an exotic touch to the meat. I was also flattered that Wine Enthusiast selected this dish as its recipe of the month in the December 15th issue. Learn more about dehydrating fruits, vegetables and herbs in our new edition of Estate Tales.

Recipe: Roasted Leg of Lamb with Sumac Rub

Summary: Ideal for your last dinner party of the winter season, this recipe is both bold in flavor and simple to prepare, allowing the cook to spend more time enjoying guests. A simple Greek salad, grilled pita, tzatziki and Cabernet Sauvignon make the meal complete.

Ingredients ~

For the Sumac Rub:

• ¼ cup sumac
• 2 Tbsp garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp dehydrated onion
• 6 Tbsp kosher salt
• 3 ½ Tbsp Chinese dried mustard (Coleman’s may be substituted)
• 3 Tbsp ancho chili powder
• 3 ½ Tbsp demerara sugar (Turbinado or Sugar in the Raw may be substituted)
• 4 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 Tbsp black pepper, ground
• 2 Tbsp Turkish Aleppo pepper
• 2 Tbsp dry oregano
• 2 Tbsp coriander, toasted and ground

For the Leg of Lamb:

• 1 leg of lamb, bone-in (7-8 pounds)
• ¼ cup Jordan Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• ½ cup fresh lemon juice
• ½ cup Jordan Sumac Rub (recipe above)

Instructions ~

1. To make the sumac rub, combine all ingredients and pulse in a spice or coffee grinder. Store in a mason jar or airtight container and keep in the pantry for up to one month. This recipe will yield 1¾ cups.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove leg of lamb from refrigerator; rub with Jordan extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice and ½ cup of the Jordan Sumac Rub. Allow lamb to come to room temperature.
3. Place lamb on a rack in a shallow pan and roast for 30 minutes. Reduce oven to 325 degrees and roast until a meat thermometer reads 135 degrees (approximately one hour and forty five minutes).
4. Remove lamb from oven and allow to rest, tented with foil for 15 minutes.
5. Serve with a simple Greek salad, grilled eggplant, pita and tzatziki for a rustic meal.

Preparation time: 20 minute(s)
Cooking time: 2 hour(s)
Number of servings (yield): 8

  Photo by Wine Enthusiast Magazine

 JORDAN VINEYARD & WINERY 4 ON 4 ART COMPETITION
AWARDS $10K TO NEW YORK ARTISTS
New York artists wanted for a chance to win $10,000 in total cash prizes

In honor of our 40^th anniversary in 2012, Jordan Vineyard & Winery has created the 4 on 4 Art Competition. The 4 on 4 New York call for entries, organized by the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), is now underway. All five New York finalists will receive cash prizes. The grand prize is $7,000, and deadline for artist applications is March 23. This is part of a four-city initiative that challenges local artists to create a commemorative work of art that blends the essence of Jordan wines with the flavor of each city.

Since its inception, Jordan Vineyard & Winery has been a strong supporter of art and culture, ranging from culinary to music to visual arts. As part of its 40^th anniversary celebration, Jordan Vineyard & Winery reaffirms its patronage of the creative community, by inviting New York artists to create a work of art that combines Jordan Vineyard & Winery’s signature wine legacy with New York’s distinctive brand of culture, architecture and design.

“New York is a city near and dear to me. Some of the significant moments of my life have taken place in Manhattan,” says John Jordan, chief executive officer and proprietor of Jordan Vineyard & Winery. “I am proud to have friends in every circle, from arts and entertainment to sports to food and wine. For me, every visit to Manhattan is an opportunity to discover and experience something new. The 4 on 4 Art Competition allows me to take that to the next level.”

Artists must submit a sketch or digital drawing of their proposed work of art by March 23. A panel of NYFA experts will select the top five proposed works of art, which will be unveiled at a private Jordan 40th anniversary event at the Dream Downtown in April. The 4 on 4 Art Top 5 artists will then execute their proposed artworks over the course of four weeks. A panel of renowned art experts and celebrity judges will select the grand prize winner from among the five finalists.

The grand prize winner will receive $7,000, two first runners-up awards of $1,000 each and two second runners-up awards of $500 each.

The deadline for submissions for the New York competition is March 23, 2012, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Artists must live and work in greater New York metropolitan area to be eligible. For a complete list of competition guidelines and submission instructions, please visit the 4 on 4 New York project page.

In addition to cash prizes, winning artists will be featured in two art exhibitions, publicity campaigns and Jordan 40^th anniversary commemorative gifts. The grand prize-winning work of art will be transformed into a limited-edition piece for Jordan’s New York area customers.

A collection of the proposed sketches and the artists’ final works will be unveiled at 4 on 4 Top 5, a public exhibition and Jordan wine tasting event, to be hosted in New York in mid-May. A people’s choice award will also be given for the top artwork selected by event guests. The 4 on 4 Top 5 event is complimentary and open to the public.

“As we begin our 41^st year, NYFA is thrilled to partner with John Jordan and Jordan Winery to help them celebrate their 40^th,” says Mark Rossier, deputy director of NYFA. “Art always makes a great gift, and we look forward to providing some beautiful images to Jordan Winery for their anniversary celebration.”

For more information about the 4 on 4 Art Competition, please visit our national news release.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow the competition on your favorite social media site:

TWITTER
Jordan Vineyard & Winery – @jordanwinery
New York Foundation for the Arts – @NYFAcurrent
4 on 4 Hashtag: #40n4art

FACEBOOK
Facebook.com/jordanwinery
Facebook.com/NYFAface

FLICKR
Flickr.com/4on4art

ABOUT JORDAN VINEYARD & WINERY
Inspired by the masterful wine, food and hospitality of France, Tom and Sally Jordan followed their hearts from Colorado to California’s bourgeoning wine country in 1972. That spring, they signed the deed on their first piece of land in Alexander Valley on the very same day their son, John, was born. They quickly planted their first vineyard with a vision for creating a singular Cabernet Sauvignon that could rival the finest wines of Bordeaux. When the first vintage of Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon debuted, it was an immediate success due to its elegance and early approachability, as well as its affinity for food. The Jordan family has spent the last four decades quietly building a reputation for relentless quality, graceful ageability and remarkable consistency vintage after vintage. For more information, visit www.jordanwinery.com.

ABOUT NEW YORK FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
Founded in 1971, New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) empowers artists at critical stages in their creative lives. NYFA serves individual artists by offering direct financial assistance, professional development and information and resources to artists and organizations that serve artists; supports arts programs in the community; and builds collaborative relationships with others who advocate for the arts in New York State and throughout the country. For more information, please visit www.nyfa.org.

 

These charities were chosen because they focus on causes near and dear to John’s heart: animal welfare, food programs for citizens in need and educational services for at-risk children. Every year, John hosts festive fundraising dinners at the winery each benefiting a single charity, and we thought it would be fun to try a new format for our largest charity initiative of the year: a walk-around wine and food tasting event, which will allow more guests to attend and more charities to benefit from our collective goodwill.

Utilizing Causes’s innovative online platform, individuals interested in supporting these causes can select which charity benefits from their donation—and receive one ticket to the event for every $75 donated. Jordan is donating all goods and services to the event (wine, food, staffing, etc.), so that 100% of every ticket donation goes to the charities. Also, 100% of the ticket price is tax-deductible, and donors will receive a thank you letter acknowledging their donation that can be used for tax purposes. Since its inception, San Francisco-based Causes has helped raise more than $40 million for charity.

To make a donation and receive event tickets, visit our Causes.com page.

Don’t wait until spring to book your tickets, as the event will sell out. We hope to see you there!

In celebration of Jordan Vineyard & Winery’s 40th anniversary, CEO John Jordan announces the “Jordan in 40 Words” contest. In 40 words or less, share a story about how Jordan has touched your life or the life of someone close to you. Maybe it’s a vintage you’ve enjoyed with someone special, a bottle gifted to you or a wine country travel experience. Forty words isn’t much once you start typing, so a big part of the challenge is combining brevity and creativity to wow the judges.

Submissions will be accepted now and until March 31. For complete rules and submission guidelines, click here.

Entries will be accepted on the Jordan Vineyard & Winery Facebook page Contest tab. You may also submit entries via email to blog@jordanwinery.com. Please use subject line: Jordan Essay Contest. If including a photo with your entry, please attach a .jpg format image no longer than 15 MB. Limit: 2 entries per natural person and 4 entries per household. No purchase of Jordan wine is required to enter.

Four prizes will be awarded:

GRAND PRIZE ~ (1) Excalibur 3900 Deluxe Food Dehydrator (value: $275)
FIRST RUNNER-UP ~ (1) Jordan-engraved Riedel crystal decanter (value: $150)
SECOND RUNNER-UP ~ (1) Black Jordan-embroidered designer fleece jacket (value: $90)
THIRD RUNNER-UP ~ (1) Rosle Cheese Knife (value: $36)

Good luck to all those entering! Please leave a comment if you have any questions.

Forty years ago, Tom and Sally Jordan signed the deed on their first piece of land in Alexander Valley and established what they then called Jordan Vineyard. Their son, John, was born that very same day: May 25, 1972.

In honor of Jordan Vineyard & Winery’s 40th anniversary and John’s milestone birthday, we’re hosting a series of events across the country and fun activities online to share that festive party spirit. We hope you’ll join us in the celebration.

Learn more about our special events, family history videos, contests and more at jordanwinery.com/40. You can also visit our Facebook Jordan 40th welcome page or our Facebook events page.

Stay tuned for first contest announcement coming in a few days. Make sure to subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss any 40th anniversary announcements.

John Jordan shares some insight into his path to becoming CEO of his family’s winery–and gives advice for other directors taking over a small business.

Once you watch the video, we must ask: Were you surprised to learn what his favorite part of the job is?

You can read John’s full biography on our website.

JORDAN VINEYARD & WINERY ANNOUNCES 4 ON 4 ART COMPETITION
WITH DALLAS/FORT WORTH ART COMMUNITY

Texas artists wanted for a chance to win up to $5,000 in cash prizes

In honor of its 40^th anniversary in 2012, iconic California vintner Jordan Vineyard & Winery has created the 4 on 4 Art Competition, a four-city initiative that challenges local artists to create a commemorative work of art that blends the elegance of Jordan wines with the flavor of each city. Rising Gallery will orchestrate the 4 on 4 Dallas competition locally; an art exhibition and Jordan wine tasting event, hosted by D Magazine, will be held April 24.

Over the years, the Jordans have commissioned artists to capture the beauty of the winery chateau through the seasons—its ivy-draped façade, window boxes sprouting spring flowers, the antique clock above a sweeping balcony. To celebrate a special dual anniversary this spring—both the founding of the winery and second-generation vintner John Jordan’s 40th birthday—Jordan Vineyard & Winery is bringing wine country to Texas artists in their own backyard, challenging talented professionals to create a special work of art that combines the essence of Jordan with Dallas’s distinct flavors of culture, food and design.

John Jordan and his family have deep connections to the Dallas area. John’s father started his career in the oil business and had an office in Dallas. “I love visiting friends in the Metroplex area,” said John Jordan, chief executive officer and proprietor of Jordan Vineyard & Winery. “I often stop in Fort Worth on my way to the east coast just to eat barbecue at the Railhead. My Texan friends have even inspired me to start raising cattle on the Jordan Estate.”

A panel of expert judges—including Peter Simek, arts editor for D Magazine; Veletta Lill, executive director of Dallas Arts District; Susan Roth Romans, owner and curator at Ro2 Art; Cris Worley, director of Cris Worley Fine Arts; Dawn Neufeld, a star on VH1′s “Football Housewives“; and James Beard Award-nominated chef and restaurateur Kent Rathbun—will select the top three works of art that meet the competition criteria. Top three winners receive cash prize awards: a grand award ($5,000), first runner-up ($2,000) and second runner-up ($1,000).

In addition to cash prizes, winning artists will be featured in an art exhibition, publicity campaigns and Jordan 40th anniversary commemorative gifts. The winning work of art will be transformed into a limited-edition piece for Jordan’s Dallas/Fort Worth customers.

The deadline for submissions for the 4 on 4 Dallas competition is April 12, 2012, at 5 p.m. CST. Artists must live and work in Dallas/Forth Worth metropolitan area to be eligible. A complete list of competition guidelines can be found on the 4 on 4 Dallas webpage.

“We are excited that Jordan Winery selected Rising Gallery for their 40th anniversary art program,” said Bryan Wetz, co-founder of Rising Gallery. “Rising Gallery is looking forward to working with other local galleries and artists to showcase the best of the Dallas art scene.”

A collection of the top competition entries will be unveiled at 4 on 4 Top 25, a public exhibition and Jordan wine tasting event, which will be held April 24, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Rising Gallery. Hosted by D Magazine, the event will also feature a people’s choice award for the top artwork selected by event guests. The 4 on 4 Top 25 event is complimentary and open to the public. RSVP is required at eventbrite.

For more information about 4 on 4 Dallas, click here.

For more information about the 4 on 4 Art Competition, please visit our national news release.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow the excitement in Dallas on Twitter and Facebook:
@jordanwinery
@risinggallery
@dmagazine
@D_FrontRow

4 on 4 Hashtag: #4on4art
Facebook.com/jordanwinery
Facebook.com/DMagazineOnline

ABOUT JORDAN VINEYARD & WINERY
Inspired by the masterful wine, food and hospitality of France, Tom and Sally Jordan followed their hearts from Colorado to California’s bourgeoning wine country in 1972. That spring, they signed the deed on their first piece of land in Alexander Valley on the very same day their son, John, was born. They quickly planted their first vineyard with a vision for creating a singular Cabernet Sauvignon that could rival the finest wines of Bordeaux. When the first vintage of Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon debuted, it was an immediate success due to its elegance and early approachability, as well as its affinity for food. The Jordan family has spent the last four decades quietly building a reputation for relentless quality, graceful ageability and remarkable consistency vintage after vintage. For more information, visit www.jordanwinery.com.

ABOUT RISING GALLERY
Brothers Bryan & Taber Wetz founded RISING in 2008 to represent artists they believed deserved gallery representation in Dallas. Rising has quickly grown into a contemporary gallery representing a stable of artists from across the country, while maintaining representation of regional and local artists in the Dallas community. Recently, the gallery relocated to downtown Dallas in a historic building nestled between the new Omni Convention Center Hotel and Dallas’s historic West End. For more information, please visit www.risinggallery.com.

ABOUT D MAGAZINE
Founded in 1974, D Magazine is a monthly magazine covering business, food, fashion and lifestyle in the city of Dallas. D Magazine has been named the “Best City Magazine” in the nation three times by the City and Regional Magazine Association and has also won five Press Club of Dallas Katie Awards. D Magazine also publishes D Home, D CEO, Dallas/Fort Worth Medical Directory, D Weddings, Private School Handbook, and FrontBurner®, a daily weblog written by D Magazine editors and selected guest bloggers. The most recent additions to D Magazine’s suite of websites include the D Weddings blog, Bridal Buzz, and Shop Talk. For more information, visit www.dmagazine.com.

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As part of our 40th anniversary celebration in 2012, we are creating special storytelling videos with the Jordans and our winemaker, Rob Davis, who has made every vintage of Jordan since the inaugural 1976. Our hope is that these videos will transport you to historical moments in our history with fascinating–and sometimes funny–stories that many fans of Jordan wines have never heard before.

Our first story comes from Sally Jordan, CEO John Jordan’s mother, who shares with us the story behind the aha moment she and Tom Jordan had over a bottle of Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon back in the fall of 1971, which changed their lives forever.

Make sure to visit our From the Heart section of this blog for more Jordan 40 storytelling videos throughout the year.