MICHAEL A. JORDAN, MS, CWE
Veteran restaurateur Michael A. Jordan, MS, CWE is the general manager of the world famous Napa Rose Restaurant and also the manager of wine sales and standards and wine educator for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts® globally.
Napa Rose is the premier restaurant in the luxurious Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® at the Disneyland® Resort in Anaheim, California. Jordan is responsible for managing all of the fine-dining venue’s staff and operations, and also serves as the restaurant’s expert sommelier and wine director. In his role as global manager of wine sales and standards Jordan oversees wine sales and wine education for all Disney properties internationally. Jordan holds the Master Sommelier Diploma with the International Court of Master Sommeliers and the Certified Wine Educator Diploma from the Society of Wine Educators, one of only a handful of people in the world to posses both diplomas.
Since his tenure at Napa Rose began, the restaurant has received countless accolades. It holds the number one food ranking in the 2002, 2003 and 2004 editions of the Zagat survey for Orange County restaurants and named Zagat’s “Most Popular Restaurant“ in the 2008 and 2009 OC Surveys. The restaurant was honored as “Best Southern California Restaurant 2007” in the Orange County Business Journal . Napa Rose was presented with the highest “Golden Scepter” Award from the Southern California Restaurant Writers (SCRW). The restaurant’s wine list also received the highest award from Wine Enthusiast Magazine the “Award of Ultimate Distinction”, Wine Spectator’s “Best of Award of Excellence” and a “Diamond Wine Award of Excellence” from the International Restaurant and Hospitality Rating Bureau. As well as being named as the “Best New Wine List” of 2002 as selected by Food & Wine, it was presented with the highest “Golden Bacchus” Cellar Award from the SCRW.
Similar to Napa Rose, Jordan has received praise for his efforts and accomplishments. In 2002, the California Restaurant Writers Association (CRWA), a journalist organization, named Jordan “2001 Sommelier of the Year”, the Southern California Restaurant Writers (SCRW) voted him “2002 Sommelier of the Year” and the Cordon du Vin World Society named him “2004 USA Sommelier of the Year.” The STARWINE International Wine Competition Board named Michael “Wine Educator of the Year 2003” and in 2005 Orange Coast Magazine named Michael “Restaurant Professional of the Year 2005” and also voted him “General Manager of the Year 2006.” Additionally, in 2008 the Southern California Restaurant Writers (SCRW) voted him “2008 General Manager of the Year” and the Whitefish Food & Wine Summit voted Jordan “Sommelier of the Year 2008”
Passionate about wine education both in and outside of the restaurant, he is a regular ‘radio sommelier’ on KABC Talk Radio and KLSX FM both in Los Angeles and the Cable Radio Network (CRN). As a prime example of Jordan’s commitment to providing the best possible wine experience, the Napa Rose has more than 42 cast members who have passed the Court of Master Sommelier’s “Level I” Introductory Sommelier Course. It was Jordan who facilitated voluntary wine study courses for his staff, creating an in-depth six month international wine class. To successfully complete the course, candidates underwent a two-day test administered by the Court of Master Sommeliers. Throughout the entire Disneyland Resort, there are now over 280 Disney Cast Members who have passed the Level I Course, all due to Jordan’s efforts.
Prior to joining Disney, Jordan opened the award-winning Pinot Provence restaurant in Costa Mesa where he was the general manager. Jordan was the owner and chef of Bella Teresa restaurant in Corona del Mar; and general manager of the Five Diamond award-winning Pavilion Restaurant at The Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach. He was also the general manager of Spencer’s restaurant in Pasadena. In his younger years, he followed in his father Matteo’s footsteps and was chef, and later general manager/ “maitre d’ to the stars” at his family’s Italian restaurants, Matteo’s, in California and Hawaii. In all, he has more than 35 years of experience in the restaurant industry.
Jordan has been active in the California Restaurant Association, National Restaurant Association, Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau, Anaheim Conference and Visitors Bureau and the Hawaii Visitors Bureau. Residing in Costa Mesa, he is also active in other civic groups in various cities. A native of Los Angeles, Jordan grew up in Hawaii where he excelled in the food service program at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu.
