The Limited-Edition Release Marks the Second Vintage of Jordan’s Revived Dessert Wine
October 1, 2026 (Healdsburg, CA) — Jordan Vineyard & Winery, Sonoma County’s iconic producer of French-inspired Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon for more than 50 years, proudly introduces its 2023 Jordan Sauternes. Created in partnership with Château Guiraud, the renowned Premier Grand Cru Classé estate in the heart of France’s Sauternes region, this limited-edition late-harvest wine marks the second vintage in Jordan’s revived dessert winemaking tradition.
The new release captures exceptional freshness, aromatic richness, and smoothness on the palate, reflecting a 2023 growing season that began early, endured spring mildew pressure, and culminated in mid-September rains followed by a prolonged dry, warm spell – ideal conditions for the development of noble rot. A blend of 65% sémillon and 35% sauvignon blanc, the 2023 Jordan Sauternes opens with bright notes of pink grapefruit, clementine, pineapple, and passion fruit, layered with thyme, Provençal herbs, elegant smokiness, and a spicy, zesty finish.
“The release of the 2023 Jordan Sauternes marks another meaningful chapter in our partnership with Château Guiraud and in Jordan’s long-standing reverence for French winemaking traditions,” said John Jordan, second-generation owner and proprietor ofJordan Vineyard & Winery. “We are excited to begin offering our guests the opportunity to experience this extraordinary wine during tastings and events at the estate beginning this summer.”
The 2023 Jordan Sauternes is precisely hand-harvested in successive passes to ensure purity and harmony – an approach that mirrors Jordan Chardonnay’s dedication to hand-harvesting. The bright golden-yellow wine is aged for 18 months in 90% new French oak barrels and 10% in one-wine barrels. The bottles are presented with refined custom labels inspired by the original packaging of Jordan’s Rivière Russe – an ode to its prestige and heritage. Featuring a radiant golden hue accentuated by gold foil, this bottling is produced at Château Guiraud, ranked a Premier Grand Cru Classé in the historic 1855 Bordeaux Classification, paying homage to time-honored Sauternes winemaking.
Vinified at Château Guiraud under the direction of winemaker Sandrine Garbay, who oversaw the 2023 vintage, the wine reflects the estate’s signature balance between concentration and freshness. Maggie Kruse, Jordan’s head winemaker for over two decades shared, “The 2023 Jordan Sauternes is a wine made for the table, and a beautiful expression of balance, something we strive for in every wine we create at Jordan. Our partnership with Château Guiraud gives us the opportunity to create this exceptional wine and to engage with new audiences while honoring the traditions and values that have long defined our wineries.”
For more than 50 years, Jordan has embraced the traditions of France’s esteemed château estates and winemaking techniques, inspired by founders Tom and Sally Jordan’s admiration for Château d’Yquem and founding winemaker Rob Davis’s pursuit of Sauternes-style excellence. Though Jordan’s late-harvest Rivière Russe was produced for only three vintages – 1982, 1983 and 1985 – due to the challenges of cultivating botrytized grapes, the winery proudly continues its late-harvest tradition more than 40 years later through a collaboration with Château Guiraud, offering a refined expression of noble rot winemaking.
The partnership between Jordan and Château Guiraud underscores the alignment of both estates’ core values of sustainable farming, balanced winemaking, and a dedication to hospitality. Located in the commune of Sauternes, Château Guiraud covers a 128-hectare estate, including 80 hectares of organically farmed vineyards, and proudly stands as the first 1855 Grand Cru Classé to receive organic farming certification in 2011. Much like Jordan’s 1,200-acre estate, biodiversity is central to Guiraud’s philosophy, with more than 635 insect and arthropod species thriving in harmony among the grapevines. Both wineries are committed to a farm-to-table approach, integrating sustainability into their culinary programs. At Jordan, Executive Chef Jesse Mallgren crafts seasonal dishes sourced from the estate’s sustainably farmed winery garden and farm. Château Guiraud spotlights produce from its own organic vegetable gardens in its two restaurants: La Chapelle de Guiraud, awarded a Bib Gourmand in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide, and Le Cercle Guiraud, awarded one MICHELIN star in 2026.
“The 2023 Sauternes celebrates the harmony between tradition and innovation, creating a contemporary expression of Sauternes that reflects the character of Château Guiraud and the values both of our wineries hold dear,” said Matthieu Gufflet, owner of Château Guiraud and founder of the Terres de Natures label. “Following the success of our first collaboration last year, we are delighted to continue our partnership with the iconic Jordan Vineyard & Winery.”
To celebrate the release, Juliette Bonnard, Pastry Chef at Le Cercle Guiraud, Château Guiraud’s gastronomic restaurant, created a Guanaja Chocolate Soufflé recipe to showcase the 2023 Jordan Sauternes’ vibrant acidity, aromatic richness, and layered complexity. The elegant dessert highlights the deep, bittersweet character of Guanaja chocolate, while the wine’s notes complement the soufflé’s airy texture and intense cocoa profile.
The 2023 Jordan Sauternes ($52/375mL) is now available for purchase at the Jordan Estate or online at: https://www.jordanwinery.com/product/2023-jordan-sauternes/. Shipping is available only to residents of California, Florida, Minnesota, Oregon, South Carolina, and Virginia. The 2023 Jordan Sauternes will be served at select winery dinners and culinary events, as well as several tasting experiences, including Social Hour on the Terrace and Jordan’s annual Paris on the Terrace Harvest Lunch.
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 at-risk youth and young adults with the tools needed to succeed educationally and professionally. Follow along at @jordanwinery on Instagram and @jordanwineryofficial on TikTok.
About Château Guiraud
Built on a soil of gravel, sand and clay, surrounded by forests in the heart of the Sauternes wine region and spanning a 128-hectare estate that includes 80 hectares of vines, Château Guiraud’s unusual topography has always fostered a unique sense of freedom. Acquired in 1766 by the Guiraud family, the château has long boasted a distinctive presence, with its classic black and gold label, pioneering commitment to biodiversity, and predilection for sauvignon blanc grapes. Part of Terres de Natures — the group founded by Matthieu Gufflet, which brings together wine estates and hospitality venues across France — Château Guiraud produces a refreshing and contemporary Sauternes with perfectly balanced sweetness. The estate produces four wines: two sweet (Château Guiraud, Petit Guiraud) and two dry whites (G de Guiraud, Grand Vin Blanc Sec). Its culinary program includes La Chapelle de Guiraud (Bib Gourmand, 2026 MICHELIN Guide) and Le Cercle Guiraud (one MICHELIN star, 2026). Sauternes by Guiraud is a pioneering signature in shades of white and gold wines.Follow along at @chateauguiraud on Instagram and @chateau.guiraud on TikTok.
