The Winepress Magazine - Spring 2014 - 15

FEATURE

The Iron Fist and
Velvet Glove:

F

or Epoch Estate Wines Winemaker
Jordan Fiorentini, making wine
is a passion that simply does not
wane. She began by working at
the family winery in Georgia, then honed her skills
at Antinori Winery in Italy. Finally, before finding her
home at Epoch she earned acclaim at Sonoma's
Chalk Hill.
Fiorentini's impressive background in wine
and winemaking is matched with extensive
formal education; her undergraduate degree from
Dartmouth is in engineering and her masters from
UC Davis is in viticulture. With this notable education
and experience, one would expect Fiorentini to be
an imposing figure in the industry, and yet she is
welcomed as both an expert and kind soul.
Balancing her role as Winemaker at Epoch Estate
Wines with family is an impressive feat. There is no
mistaking Fiorentini for anything less than a Super
Woman of wine (and a wife and mother to boot).
In regards to her favorite wines, Fiorentini has
an amazingly refined palate, but also loves to create
and take risks. While Fiorentini explains that she
personally likes Napa cabs, she admittedly dabbles
in other wines that allow for creativity and "funk."
Likewise, she says the Rhone blends are always
enjoyable. When she is drinking a wine, Fiorentini
always looks for the mystique or intrigue in the wine

JORDAN
FIORENTINI,
WINEMAKER

for Epoch Estate Wines
By Jaylene Marotte

- what is different, a special winemaking technique,
or generally anything that stands out.
True to her adventurous spirit, Fiorentini is
always looking for the new and different in wines.
She likes to experiment with fermenting by using
"fun things," or using new techniques such as
fermenting in an Amphora (a clay pot popular in
Italy for fermentation).
Gentle but firm, Fiorentini thinks women are
able to take an iron fist and velvet glove to their
work. She came to Paso, and Epoch Wines in
particular, because she wanted to be in charge of
the vineyard and the wine. Even though she works
for the winery proprietor, they trust her to create
her vision and give her the freedom to follow her
instincts. As anyone with a passion can attest, this
makes work less of a job and more of a pleasure.
As Jordan's vision unfolds, the expectation of
great things to come is understandable. Whether
it is a classic Cabernet or a new blend crafted from
her intuition, it is sure to please.
Epoch Estate Wines
Tasting room 7505 York Mountain Road,Templeton
For information
Call
805-237-7575 or
Visit
EpochWines.com

SPRING 2014 THE WINEPRESS MAGAZINE

15
The Winepress Magazine - Spring 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Winepress Magazine - Spring 2014
