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Judy Jordan
Founder and CEO of J Vineyards and Winery
Judy Jordan, founder and President of J Vineyards and Winery, and second generation vintner, chose to honor her family’s heritage with a courageous and different path. Respecting her family and the Jordan Winery, Judy decided as a young woman to build her own brand and winery.
Twenty years later Judy has succeeded at building a world class reputation for her signature J Vintage Brut. Creating a similar world class status for J’s magnificent Russian River Estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, is part of Judy’s ongoing vision for the future.
After graduating from Stanford with a degree in Earth Sciences/Geology, Judy worked in Geophysics at Western Geophysical Corporation in Denver, Colorado before returning to work at her family’s businesses. The experience of working for her family allowed Judy to hone her skills in business, marketing, soils and geology – all from a Geologist’s and Vintner’s perspective.
In 1986, Judy started what is now called J Vineyards and Winery. With her typical joie de vivre, she began weaving the vines of tradition and elegance with those of contemporary innovation to build a world class winery of her own.
In 1996, Judy purchased the former Piper Sonoma winemaking facility in Healdsburg, in the heart of the Russian River Valley. Judy was one of the first, if not the first, to pioneer wine country’s elegant food and wine experience for visitors. The sumptuous tasting room which opened in 1999, incorporated bite sized delicacies to complement each wine and illustrate how wine pairs with cuisine. This award winning Visitor’s Center continues to be the people’s choice for an ultimate luxury experience.
One of Judy’s great mentors is her Father, Tom Jordan. "I feel very fortunate to have a wonderful father who helped me to start my career and who continues to share his knowledge of the wine business. His entrepreneurial passion is inspiring!"
Reflecting on the importance of family in her company and personal life, Judy also credits the late Lew Platt, former CEO of Hewlett Packard and Chairman of Boeing Corporation. Platt mentored Judy in the importance of building and maintaining a team aligned with core values of elegance, integrity, respect and a sense of community. Today Judy brings her vision into harmony with her entire team to provide wines of unparalleled quality that reflect the unique character of her Russian River Valley Estate Vineyards.
Judy has been active in the community, residing on boards and assisting in several charitable endeavors with Sonoma County Community Foundation, Boys and Girls Club, Roots of Peace and United Way. Through the years Judy has also made time to serve her business community as a board member of Sonoma County Wineries Association, Russian River Valley Vintners and the Wine Institute.
Conversational in both French and Spanish, Judy’s interests in other cultures sparked a passion for travel early on and her appetite for adventure led her to see the world. Judy has lived on a Chinese commune, trekked through the Himalayas, worked on a ranch in the Australian outback and bunked with cliff dwellers in West Africa. An accomplished athlete, she was a member of Stanford’s varsity tennis team when they won the National Championships in 1981 and in her youth Judy enjoyed a successful career as a competitive swimmer. Judy continues to incorporate exercise in her daily routine, whether it’s competing in triathlons, swimming 100 laps a day , running through the vineyards of Russian River or playing tennis with her children.
This elegant woman, known for her clever wit and creative ambition, has an impressive list of accomplishments under her belt. Her proudest accomplishment and most cherished role however, is that of Mom to Nicole and Robert.
Judy’s vision is one of legacy. Following the footprints of family tradition, Judy aspires to build a world class winery that honors quality and elegance, providing enjoyment for generations to come.
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