J VINEYARDS & WINERY ADDS THREE NEW ESTATE PINOT NOIR AND CHARDONNAY VINEYARDS TO ITS RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY HOLDINGS

(June 26, 2009; Healdsburg, CA)-When Judy Jordan bottled her first varietal Pinot Noir fifteen years ago, she began a mission to position J as a leader in Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. Today Judy announced the acquisition of three new Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards, which, with the Burgundian wine making expertise of George Bursick, will take J's Pinot Noir and Chardonnay programs to an elevated quality level.

"I have dedicated my career to creating wines that honor the potential of Russian River Valley's terroir, and these three new vineyards will give us the canvas to further express its diversity and complexity," says Founder and President Judy Jordan. "After graduating with an Earth-Sciences Degree from Stanford University, I learned that the vineyards of Russian River have more soil types than those found in all of France and it is my goal to use this knowledge to establish J as a leading Russian River Valley producer of both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay."

In 2006, Judy hired winemaking veteran George Bursick to further elevate J's varietal wine program to a luxury level. Bursick and J's viticulturist, John Erbe, have implemented several meticulous farming practices, such as subdividing each of J's ten Russian River Valley vineyards into sublots based on soil composition, mineral content, and moisture levels, thus allowing each specific block to be harvested and vinified separately.

J now farms 257 acres of vineyards checker-boarded throughout the Russian River Valley. J's diverse hillside and valley floor vineyards-ten in all-are located from the North to the South of the Valley. Each vineyard offers distinctive flavors to the wine and every growing season is unique. The diversity of locations, soils, trellises, rootstocks (9), and clones (14 clones of Pinot Noir, 10 clones of Chardonnay, 3 clones of Pinot Gris) gives the winemaking team a tremendous range of flavor profiles to work with in creating unique and iconic wines. The three new vineyards will be named: Sally Ann's Vineyard, Bow Tie Vineyard, and Dotty Stan Vineyard.

Sally Ann's Vineyard - (Named after Judy's Mother, Sally Ann Jordan)
The most distinct of the new vineyards is Sally Ann's Vineyard, a 16.5-acre hillside parcel planted to Pinot Noir clones Dijon 667, Dijon 777, Dijon 828, Pommard, and the newest Dijon clone, 943. While a portion of the vineyard is Steinbeck soil, the vineyard is predominately Goldridge loam, a sandy and well-drained soil where Pinot Noir thrives. The vineyard was chosen for its location on the southwest corner of the Russian River Valley where the cool Pacific breezes flow in every afternoon from the coast. It will be J's coolest vineyard and will produce very high-quality fruit in low-yields.

Bow Tie Vineyard - (Named after Judy's Grandfather who would not be caught out for dinner without his bowtie)
The Bow Tie Vineyard, J's most clonally diverse site, is a 37.8-acre property located on the northern end of Westside Road, right off of the Russian River. The top half of the vineyard is planted to Pinot Noir clones Dijon 667, Dijon 777, Dijon 828, Dijon 943, Dijon 115, Swan, Rochioli, Pommard, and 2A in Arbuckle sandy loam, which brings out a big, bold style of wine. The lower half of the vineyard is planted to Chardonnay clones 76, Rued, Wente, and Robert Young in Zamora silty clay loam, Yolo sandy loam, and Cortina silty clay loam. J purchased the Bow Tie Vineyard mid-2008, and it was recently planted in 2009.

Dotty Stan Vineyard - (Named after two dear, life-long friends who changed Judy's life)
The 14.5-acre Dotty Stan Vineyard, currently an apple farm, will be J's only vineyard comprised 100% of Goldridge loam. It will be planted next year to predominately Chardonnay with certain blocks planted to Pinot Noir. It is located in the western reaches of the Russian River Valley.
"In upgrading our vineyard holdings we are presented with some extraordinary site-specific winemaking opportunities," notes Vice President of Winemaking, George Bursick. "We want each clone and vineyard sublot to offer something different. More variables in the vineyards offer us a greater potential in the winery to showcase the Russian River Valley's diverse characteristics."

J currently produces a total of six Pinot Noirs, (Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast and Barrel 16), including three single-vineyard Pinot Noirs from their Estate vineyard holdings; (Nicole's Vineyard, Robert Thomas Vineyard and Nonny's Vineyard). Additionally, J makes a Russian River Valley Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Pinotage.

About J Vineyards & Winery
Founded by Judy Jordan in 1986 and expressed through George Bursick's winemaking, J Vineyards & Winery produces site-specific, cool-climate Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, as well as the highly lauded J Cuvée 20, J Vintage Brut, J Brut Rosé and J Late-Disgorged Brut. Considered a pioneer in Sonoma County for the enhanced Visitor Center experience, the winery offers award-winning varietal and sparkling wines at its Signature Bar as well as sumptuous food and wine pairings in the Bubble Room paired to perfection by Executive Chef Mark E. Caldwell. Located at 11447 Old Redwood Highway in Healdsburg, CA. For more information about J Vineyards & Winery go to www.jwine.com or call 1.800.JWINECO.

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