Donelan

Donelan Wines is a boutique, family-owned winery based in Sonoma County, California, specializing in small-lot, terroir-driven wines. Founded in 2009 by Joe Donelan after a transformative wine experience in Burgundy, the winery remains a family affair with his sons, Tripp and Cushing Donelan, actively involved in management and operations. The Donelans are committed to producing elegant, site-specific wines from cool-climate vineyard sites, many of which are located in the Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, and Mendocino Ridge AVAs.

The winery focuses primarily on Rhône varietals—particularly Syrah, Grenache, and Roussanne—as well as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Donelan Wines is known for working closely with high-elevation and low-yield vineyards, often practicing organic or sustainable farming. Each bottling typically reflects a single vineyard or block, emphasizing minimal intervention in the cellar to allow terroir expression.

The winemaking team has included notable talents like Tyler Thomas (now with Dierberg and Star Lane) and more recently, David Milner and winemaker/consultant Garrett Buckland. Their style balances ripeness with freshness, offering wines that are structured, complex, and age-worthy. With annual production often under 5,000 cases, Donelan Wines remains one of Sonoma’s most respected artisanal producers, consistently earning acclaim from critics and collectors alike.

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