Jordan Estate Tales - Volume 11, 2016 - 12

ROB DAVIS
A FÊTE FOR 40 HARVESTS
by Lisa Mattson

N

othing in life is a coincidence. We couldn't help but think
of the power of fate on Monday, August 24, when 30
guests turned out to celebrate Winemaker Rob Davis's 40th
harvest at Jordan Winery. Three months in the making, the entire
event was a surprise that involved juggling dates and schedules of
friends and colleagues who have known Rob for many decades of
his wine career: baseball legends, barrel makers, cork suppliers,
journalists, sommeliers, friends, his family and fellow winemakers.
We selected a date we knew was the only day the San Francisco
Giants (Rob's team) weren't playing right before harvest, so Bruce
Bochy, Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper could (hopefully) attend.
Luckily, that date coincided with special guests already traveling
to California from Portugal, France and New York. What we didn't
know is that this day would end up being the official start of
harvest 2015 for Jordan. (Rob made his first picking decision about
72 hours before the event's start.) The symbolism of the event-

12

gathering 30 friends to toast to his 40th harvest a few hours after
the first grapes arrived at the crush pad-made the celebration all
the more memorable.
Giants broadcasting team "Kruk and Kuip" were first on deck,
roasting Rob with a series of "forty" stories.
Over the course of two hours, coincidences soon became a
common theme-the serendipity of it all unfolding as stories were
told and storied bottles were poured-1977 Jordan Cabernet
Sauvignon in six-liter format, Rob's inaugural 1976 Jordan, 1994
Petrus, a Graham's 40 Year Old Tawny hand-carried from Portugal
and more.
Bruce Bochy, manager of the San Francisco Giants, who
became friends with Rob due to their shared love of baseball
and wine, toasted Rob during the main course. He surprised

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Jordan Estate Tales - Volume 11, 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Jordan Estate Tales - Volume 11, 2016