Jordan Joins Napa Valley Syrah Producer after Notable Turns at Turley Wine Cellars, Neyers Vineyards and His Own Winery, Failla
St. Helena, Calif., April, 2014 – Aril is thrilled to announce the addition of winemaker Ehren Jordan of Failla to its team for the upcoming 2014 season. Home to Rhône-style Syrah wines, Aril is a perfect match for Jordan, who developed his winemaking technique under the tutelage of celebrated oenologist Jean-Luc Columbo. Ehren honed his skills in the vineyards of the Rhône Valley in France, assisting with Columbo’s own label, Les Ruchets. Although he has no formal degree in fermentation science (a fact he proudly credits with his success), Jordan is steeped in the French style of Syrah-Grenache wines.
In giving Jordan the title of 2008 Winemaker of the Year, the San Francisco Chronicle said “The consistent quality of any of his projects would win him plenty of attention…an impressive, precise mind lies behind the always-mellow demeanor … If there’s a common thread in Jordan’s work, it might be his insistence on making ‘wines that are authentic.’”
Prior to opening Failla in 1998, Jordan was an integral member of the well-known Turley Wine Cellars team and was both winemaker and partial owner at Neyers Vineyards.
Jordan has a reputation for managing multiple projects with coveted results. “’He’s the master of information,’ says Larry Turley, who owns Turley Wine Cellars. ‘Everything goes through him. He has, at his fingertips, every bit of information he needs about every lot. … It’s like in business. It’s management by walking around.’” Some of the zinfandels Jordan crafted for Turley were in such high demand that $30 bottles were sold by retailers for $115. Jordan, however, prides himself on creating elegant, first-class vintages for a reasonable price; wines that are for sharing and enjoying because of a unique bouquet and an even taste.
Joanne and Harmon Brown, owners of Aril, are eager to see Jordan’s influence on their upcoming offerings. “We are so excited to welcome Ehren to the team and for him to begin his work on our 2014 wines. Based on his previous ventures and the fantastic wines produced by Failla, we know Ehren will produce some wonderful vintages in the next few years at Aril.”
Harmon and Joanne Brown’s motivation for starting Aril derives from their shared belief in “repotting” – the pursuit of a new career every ten years. In the past, the Browns have enjoyed long careers in flower exporting, real estate and the restaurant business. They believe “repotting” gives someone a creative spark and an expanded worldview that offers deeper insight into life’s experiences.
“We realized our personal passion was something we wanted to share with the world,” says Harmon. “Starting Aril was the best way to do that. So we decided to build the business.”
About Aril
Established in 2006, Aril was founded by Harmon and Joanne Brown, who set out to make their ideal hand-crafted wines – complex, balanced and honest, with personalities that reveal more with time. Aril is located in Napa Valley and offers five different vintages from their Atlas Peak and Pritchard Hill locations. Launched under the watchful eye of winemaker Nate Weis, the premium Syrah vintages of Aril will now be created by well-known winemaker Ehren Jordan. Jordan has a storied career in winemaking, with a specialization in Rhone-style Syrah wines similar to those produced by Aril. Aril wines are made from grapes grown in Napa’s signature cool air and rocky soil, picked at the height of ripeness and left to natively ferment before maturing in French Oak barrels. Aril’s selections are available online or can be found at retailers and restaurants located in California, Colorado, Illinois and Kentucky, with growing distribution across the country. Additional information is available at arilwines.com.
