Jordan Estate Tales - Volume 8 - 2013 - 13

(Clockwise from top left): John Jordan landing his piper Cub;
hosting toys for tots donation drive; fishing on Jordan lake;
and exercising the winery dogs.
one tutoring in four new schools in Sonoma County. We
fulfilled a list of wishes from teachers that ranged from field
trips for their students to enrichment activities they wanted to
add to the classroom curriculum. These donations have been
replicated in other parts of the state as well.
The bulk of our work is about remedying the inequality of
educational opportunities and career choices that exists in our
society. I am fortunate in that being part of a successful brand
like Jordan gives me the opportunity to make a difference and
try to make the world a better place.

Flying & Fishing

Beyond my love of wine and giving back to the community,
I believe that having a wide range of sporting interests
keeps the mind agile. Each of my hobbies appeals to a
different aspect of my personality. As an avid pilot, I feed my
adventurous side and as a bass fisherman, I remain in touch
with my competitive side.
As a child, I loved to build model airplanes, and at age 17,
I earned my private pilot’s certificate. It just seemed like a
natural extension of the process: If you build enough planes,
you will want to sit in a real one. To this day, my wonder for
flying has never waned. Soaring over the vineyards lets me see
the topography of the grounds differently. It is a completely
unique perspective that I enjoy sharing with my family, friends
and visitors. It gives me a totally new take on the land below,
the change of seasons and the agricultural process. Each time
I go up, it’s a new adventure.
Bass fishing is another passion I’ve enjoyed since I was a
boy. Jordan Lake has been an integral part of my life, from
spending time as a young boy on the lake to being able to
share its tranquility with friends and winery guests today;
it provides a competitive outlet that’s all about having fun.
Challenging friends to a catch-and-release bass tournament is
much more relaxing than sitting behind my desk.
able to focus on the bigger picture around you is essential
to a fulfilling life. Having a wide range of hobbies and
goals expands my mind, helps me take a needed break from
managing the winery, and allows me to enjoy the Jordan
Estate property as my home, not just my business. Since the
winery and I both turned 40 in 2012, I’ve dedicated more
and more time and thought to the goal of helping others and
thinking outside of the box.

PhilAnthroPy

My career has taught me that businesses can’t operate in a
vacuum but need to exist within the communities where they
are based. We have an obligation to try to make our world
a better place to live, so I focus on supporting my community
in the Sonoma County area.
It is incumbent upon business owners to make a difference
in the lives of their fellow citizens. This past year, I started
the John Jordan Foundation to help bridge the educational
gap for those less fortunate.
Many of our projects are focused on helping local
students access technology and assisting them in achieving
their dreams. We provide students with the tools, both
technological and educational, to help them improve their
scholastic performance and pursue the right opportunities.
The idea is to provide them with the skills to become
entrepreneurs if they so desire. The foundation has donated
iPads to a dozen schools and also helped to launch one-on-

AnimAls

Growing up on the Jordan property, I was always surrounded
by a variety of animals—cats, dogs, pigs and even a llama.
My mom has a deep passion for all animals, especially dogs
that need to be rescued, which quickly rubbed off on me.
My first pet was a black Labrador Retriever named Cookie.
As most dogs do, Cookie taught me about the true friendship
that comes with unconditional love. I have three Labrador
mixes now named Nimitz, Bismarck and Rosie that are
always by my side, helping me greet winery guests on the
weekends and playing throughout the vineyards. They’ve
driven my passion to be a supporter of a number of dog
rescue programs, including Muttville Senior Dog Rescue,
Healdsburg Animal Shelter and the Humane Society. Much to
my mom’s pleasure, our family of animals on the property has
continued to grow over the years. The Jordan herd of cattle
is now up to 22 cows, which rotate their grazing between
the pastures next to our gardens and on the back side of the
estate. Our first chicken coop is filled with Black Austalorp
hens, and a flock of sheep will mostly like come next.
My most rewarding days are when I can shake hands with our
guests in the lobby, approve a grant for an elementary school
teacher in need of supplies, then take a flight over the estate in
my Piper Cub, watching the cows graze on a hillside pasture
and wild turkeys roam through the vineyards. And if there’s
time after a long afternoon of department meetings to catch a
bass or two, I’m the happiest guy in wine country.
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http://blog.jordanwinery.com/2012/12/grape-gondola-toy-drive-collects-2060-pounds-of-toys-for-children/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/jordanwinery/sets/72157622902180621/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/jordanwinery/sets/72157622902180621/ http://www.jordanwinery.com/newsletters/2012vol7/files/24.html http://www.johnjordanfoundation.org
Jordan Estate Tales - Volume 8 - 2013

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