Spread across the rolling green hills of Sonoma County in Healdsburg, California, Jordan Vineyard & Winery evokes the charm of a French village. At the heart of the estate stands a sprawling chateau that houses a dining room and kitchen, wine cellars, winemaking facilities and a tasting library. Designed by architect Bob Arrigoni and opened in 1976, the 58,000-square-foot chateau sits amid manicured gardens and vineyard views, offering visitors an elegant setting for wine and food experiences.
Jordan offers four distinct wine tours and gourmet tastings that pair estate wines with food prepared from ingredients grown on the property. The kitchen gardens supply a grove of fruit trees, rows of vegetables, fragrant herbs and honey from the estate’s beehives. Throughout the year the winery presents events such as guided hikes through the vineyards, themed dinners and other culinary occasions that highlight seasonal produce and wine pairings.
The Library Tastings provide a seated experience in the cellar room, featuring estate olive oil and artisan cheeses alongside older vintages. Typical pours include Russian River Valley Chardonnay and Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, served with hors d’oeuvres crafted by Executive Chef Todd Knoll. Guests who want a more comprehensive visit can choose the Winery Tour and Library Tasting, which adds a tour of the historic oak tank room. The Estate Tour & Tasting extends the experience further with a walk through the chef’s garden and a guided tour of the vineyards.
During the holiday season, the Holiday Tour & Tasting moves the tasting to the dining room by the fireplace and concludes with homemade cookies and hot cocoa, creating a cozy, festive atmosphere. These curated experiences emphasize the estate’s commitment to thoughtful hospitality, seasonal ingredients and wines that reflect the terroir of Sonoma County.
While in Healdsburg, a visit to the Russian River Rose Company is highly recommended. This family-run nursery and show garden features the Rose History Trail, a Shade Garden, Rose Allee, Butterfly Garden, Iris Garden, a perfume distillery and a nursery offering more than 100 carefully selected rose varieties. Owners Jan Tolmasoff, a biologist, and Michael Tolmasoff, an engineer, cultivate rare roses that are used to produce small-batch rosewater and rose perfumes following traditional Bulgarian perfume-making methods.
The distillery and garden experience at Russian River Rose Company connects visitors with the full process of scent production, from bloom to bottle. Rose harvest tours let guests learn about harvesting techniques and the labor-intensive distillation process. The Deluxe Gourmet Perfume Rose Harvest Tour is a popular choice: participants take part in rosewater distillation, tour the gardens and enjoy an array of rose-themed refreshments such as rose hip jam, Turkish delight, baklava and rose water sorbet, finished with a glass of Rose Champagne.
Tours and special events at both Jordan Vineyard & Winery and Russian River Rose Company often have limited availability, so it’s advisable to check schedules and reserve in advance. Together, these destinations offer a complementary blend of wine, food and fragrant garden experiences that capture the culinary and sensory richness of Healdsburg and the Russian River Valley.