July 24, 2013 | by Lisa Mattson

Each summer, Jordan Winery host sommeliers from different cities for weekend getaways to Alexander Valley wine country. It’s not uncommon for wineries and trade associations to bring their top customers to California for wine education trips to learn more about winemaking practices and what sets a particular producer or wine region apart from the rest. These types of trips usually include 12-hour days of non-stop wine tasting and winery tours. We call it, “wine prison.”

We like to think of Jordan’s sommelier trips as the opposite. Our friends come to the winery to relax and enjoy what the wine business is all about–great wines, great food and great company, all enjoyed in a relaxed, beautiful setting. Wine tasting is definitely on the itinerary, as is visiting a cooperage to learn about wine barrel making, but so is a pizza-making competition, breakfast in the Jordan garden and fishing on Jordan Lake. Making wine education fun: that’s what Jordan hospitality is all about.