Renovations Bring New French-Inspired Grandeur to Sonoma Wine Country,
Part of a Seven-Year Enhancement Plan at the Iconic Winery Estate
Healdsburg, Calif. (July 2023)–Jordan Vineyard & Winery – the certified sustainable producer of French-inspired chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon wines in Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley–today announces the completion of its reimagined chateau lobby and entry lawn that bring an unprecedented level of French-inspired grandeur to charming Healdsburg. These renovations also signal Jordan’s commitment to elevating its 1,200-acre winery estate through a seven-year enhancement plan envisioned by owner John Jordan. Since 2019, remodeled spaces include the Jordan Chateau Library, Bacchus Courtyard, Cellar Room, glass pavilion at Visa Point and Chateau Guest Suites that overlook the barrel room, which most recently reopened for Jordan Estate Rewards Members as luxurious wine country retreats in July 2021.
“As we continue to raise the bar in hospitality, winemaking and design, we are pleased that guests will now be immersed in our French-inspired world from the moment they arrive at the chateau,” said John Jordan, chief executive officer at Jordan Vineyard & Winery. “I would like to thank our designers, Maria Khouri Haidamus and Christian Douglas, who have guided the chateau lobby and lawn renovation to far exceed our expectations. We also had many Jordan employees, vendors and contractors who helped make this vision come to life. These renovations mark a pivotal change to our guest experience, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the artistry, craftsmanship and vision of our cherished partners.”
The Jordan Chateau Lobby renovation is a notable first for the winery, as it is the first time that structural changes have been made to this arrival space since the chateau’s construction in 1974. Former offices and an employee kitchen have now given way to a larger retail boutique and grand salon, expanding the space by 600 square feet.
Chateau Lobby
The chateau lobby is a vision of exquisite French elegance, led by San Francisco-based interior designer, Maria Khouri Haidamus, who also redesigned the Jordan Chateau Guest Suites in 2021. Custom wall panels adorned in robin’s egg blue and distressed gold trim set a sumptuous tone while the finest materials, venerable antiques and precious art delight guests across the entry hall, grand salon, hallway and retail boutique. Handcrafted wood flooring in a striking chevron pattern also connects each space.
“I am honored to work with the Jordan team for a second time to craft a new lobby and arrival experience that is as meaningful to the estate’s storied heritage as it is magnificent for guests,” said Maria Khouri Haidamus, principal of Maria Khouri Haidamus Interiors. “For this project, I set out to curate a rarified level of furnishings, antiques and art–including commissioned pieces–that pay tribute to what the Jordans have cultivated over the past 51 years.” Maria Khouri Haidamus worked closely with Lisa Mattson, who served as the marketing director and lead creative at Jordan for more than a decade, to guide special projects for the lobby renovation. Mattson was responsible for the art curation of the historical collage and wall mural sculpture, as well as sourcing decorative objects and other artwork.
The new entry hall introduces guests to the artistry of the Jordan experience with a custom reception desk rendered in Ponte Vecchio-honed marble as an homage to the George V hotel in Paris. Above, an Aubusson tapestry dating to the 17th century depicts a wooded French countryside while a windowpane pendant with a two-arm candelabra adds a charming touch.
A grand salon off the entry hall whisks guests into a sumptuous lounge where they can await daily winery tours and tastings or check-in to one of the chateau suites. Handcrafted sofas by O. Henry House and rugs by Tony Kitz Gallery meet a trove of museum-quality antiques: armchairs from the Napoleon III period fashioned in new fabric; a collection of 18th century drawings from the fabled Galerie Marie-Pierre Jaudel Antiquités in Paris; a custom Louis XVI-inspired walnut console; and decorative objects in bookcases sourced from Paris, Provence and U.S. antique dealers. Fisher Weisman chandeliers with 14-arm candelabras and a crescendo of curves complete the space.
Across the entry hall, a retail boutique and reception area is a secondary space where guests can browse Jordan merchandise and enjoy an artful tour through Jordan’s history with a 19-piece art collage. This intriguing art collection includes three commissioned works that illustrate Jordan’s history along with 16 French lithographs and engravings from the 17th to 19th centuries. A focal point is a captivating, animated portrait of John Jordan by famous illustrator Sharif Tarabay, representing his first portrait ever presented as a video on a digital canvas. The space presents a series of handsome wooden pieces, from a central walnut table and custom walnut wine cabinet to a 19th century French display cabinet from the Napoleon III period. An acanthus-crowned Chippendale mirror in antique gold leaf evokes the 18th-century Rococo period while a chandelier resembling dangling palm fronds offers a more modern moment. A sitting area with Louis XVI-inspired furniture rounds out the room along with new French doors that open to Jordan’s Bacchus Courtyard–where a pollinator garden and marble fountain invite tranquil relaxation.
Chateau Lobby Bathrooms
The lobby bathrooms are decorative displays of art in and of themselves, featuring stunning mural wallpapers. Jordan asked Gracie, a family business that has been crafting hand-painted wall coverings since 1898, to create a bespoke interpretation of its enchanting Linda’s Garden mural for the women’s lobby bathroom. Reimagined to capture the spirit of the Jordan Estate, the mural includes oak and citrus trees, flowering dogwood and kites and an egret—wildlife all found across the 1,200-acre Jordan Estate. This hand-painted mural took Gracie approximately 500 hours to complete. Similarly, a monochrome grisaille mural of a wooded countryside by Susan Harter lends understated grace to the men’s bathroom. Both bathrooms are anchored by wondrous marble floors and countertops by Ann Sacks, as well as striking fixtures and sconces by Waterworks.
Chateau Lawn
The world-class experience in the new lobby extends to the redesigned Jordan Chateau Lawn, which greets every winery guest. Award-winning landscape designer Christian Douglas drew inspiration from the ivy-clad chateau and the estate’s illustrious culinary program for this eloquent arrival experience that is French in spirit and food-forward by design.
The new chateau lawn notably draws guests in with enhancements that delight the eye and the senses: more alluring green space, widened entry stairs, an elegant row of hedges, bold shapes of nearly 30 boxwood topiaries, and a central cobblestone path that creates a lovely through line to the Jordan Chateau’s Lobby entrance. A magnificent fountain selected by John Jordan makes a statement in the center of the lawn–and introduces a soothing rhythm of water that echoes off the lengthy chateau walls.
The estate’s gourmet culinary program–led by Michelin-starred executive chef Jesse Mallgren and featuring a chef’s garden, chicken coop and honeybee apiary–is newly integrated into the chateau entry lawn through the addition of edible, shade-loving plants: wild Fraises De Bois strawberries and coiled fiddlehead fronds harvested from young ferns. More than visual wonders, these plants were carefully selected for use in Jordan’s daily tasting menus, seasonal lunches and unforgettable soirées.
“It was important for us to create a cohesive architectural space where refined beauty and useful culinary ingredients come together to activate the heart of this magnificent winery,” said Christian Douglas, principal of Christian Douglas Design. “I hope guests feel as if they are strolling through a whimsical French country estate, enchanted for what awaits behind the chateau doors and beyond.”
Jordan’s director of facilities, Tim Spence, who joined the winery in 1989, led all construction with support by his son, Matt Spence, the chief engineer at Jordan, and the facilities team. Precision Builders served as the general contractor with the Spences and JDM Painting + Staining led all interior and exterior painting, staining and finishing.
For more information or to experience the reimagined Jordan Chateau Lobby and Lawn, please visit www.jordanwinery.com, call 707-431-5250 or contact info@jordanwinery.com.
About Jordan Vineyard & Winery
Jordan Vineyard & Winery pays homage to the great wine estates of France and the timeless connection between food, wine and hospitality. Under the guidance of second-generation proprietor John Jordan, Jordan Estate is an extension of these traditions, with its iconic chateau, breathtaking views, sustainably farmed vineyards, natural habitat for wildlife and gardens for the chef’s inventive cuisine, offering a distinctive sense of place in Sonoma County wine country. A significant portion of the winery’s revenue funds the John Jordan Foundation, which works to provide disadvantaged youth and young adults with the tools needed to succeed educationally and professionally. Follow along at @jordanwinery on Instagram.
About Maria Khouri Haidamus Interiors
Maria Khouri Haidamus Interiors is a luxury interior design firm based in San Francisco. Maria’s design aesthetic is inspired by her global travels and reflects Middle Eastern and European design influences. Her work is memorable, glamourous and imbued with a fresh modern sensibility.
About Christian Douglas Design
Christian Douglas is a multi-award-winning landscape designer, creating beautiful and productive outdoor spaces for over 25 years. Combining his formal training in classical design and his passion for regenerative agriculture, he has created innovative landscapes in his native England, the Middle East and the United States, with food at the heart. He has been featured in Architectural Digest, WSJ, California Home & Design and Sunset Magazine, and is currently writing a book on food and design due for release in 2024.
Photos by Christopher Stark
