Ehren Jordan

About Ehren Jordan

• Grew up in Pittsburgh without a wine background; studied art history at George Washington University and got into wine stocking shelves at a D.C. wine shop.
• Worked in wine distribution in Denver and as wine buyer and manager at an Aspen restaurant before a summer tour-guide job at Joseph Phelps led him into the cellar.
• Spent about two years in Cornas in France's northern Rhône working for Jean-Luc Colombo.
• Returned to California in 1994 as founding winemaker at Neyers Vineyards, working for a stake in the business; sold that stake in 2003.
• Joined Turley Wine Cellars in 1996 at Larry Turley's invitation and ran winemaking (and served as general manager) until leaving in early 2013 to focus on Failla.
• In the mid-1990s bought ridge-top land near Cazadero in what is now the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA and planted Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah; about 11 acres are now under vine, organically dry-farmed.
• Launched Failla (first called Failla-Jordan) with his wife Anne-Marie Failla with the 1998 vintage; built a St. Helena winery after 2003 and opened its tasting room in 2010.
• Started the Day label in 2011, planting about four acres of Zinfandel at the St. Helena winery property.
• Named San Francisco Chronicle Winemaker of the Year for 2008.
• Failla has since added Oregon wines, including an estate site in the Willamette Valley.

Ehren's own wines

• Failla Wines · since 1998
• Day (St. Helena Zinfandel) · since 2011

Wineries Ehren has made wine for

Consulting relationships change often; these are clients past and recent as reported over the years.

• Turley Wine Cellars
• Neyers Vineyards
• Aril (Napa Valley Syrah)
• Marcassin

Notable wines and scores

• 2021 Failla Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Fort Ross-Seaview: 97 pts, Jeb Dunnuck (96 Vinous)
• 2021 Failla Occidental Ridge Pinot Noir: 97 pts, Jeb Dunnuck (96 Vinous)
• 2001 Turley Hayne Vineyard Zinfandel: 97 pts, Robert Parker / Wine Advocate
• 2012 Failla Estate Syrah, Fort Ross-Seaview: 94 pts, Decanter

Recognition

• San Francisco Chronicle Winemaker of the Year, 2008

Taste Ehren's wines in wine country

Many of these wineries are by appointment only, and some sell only to their mailing lists. Tell us which wines you would like to taste and your chauffeur will book what is possible and build the day around it. See our Napa Valley wine tours and Sonoma County wine tours, or plan a private tour.

Sources

faillawines.com · sfgate.com · winespectator.com · sonomamag.com · decanter.com · vinous.com · wineindustryadvisor.com