Donelan
Summary
Donelan Family Wines is a boutique, family-owned producer in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, specializing in cool-climate Rhône-style wines, particularly Syrah, sourced from premium vineyards across Russian River Valley and Bennett Valley. Their artisanal approach features hand-harvesting, native yeast fermentations for select wines, whole cluster techniques for certain Syrahs, and measured French oak aging to preserve vineyard expression and terroir in their small-production bottlings.
Heritage & Leadership
Donelan Family Wines was founded in 2009 by Joe Donelan in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California. The winery emerged following Joe Donelan's previous partnership with Pax Wine Cellars, representing a new chapter in his winemaking journey. From its inception, Donelan established a clear focus on Rhône-style wines and cool-climate Syrah, setting the direction that would define the producer's portfolio.
As the name suggests, Donelan operates as a family-owned business with Joe Donelan serving as founder and proprietor. His son, Cushing Donelan, has contributed to the family enterprise in marketing and business development capacities. The winemaking team has included Tyler Thomas and David Milner, both bringing their expertise to shape the Donelan wine program over the years.
Vineyards & Wines
Donelan sources grapes from multiple vineyards across Sonoma County, focusing particularly on cool-climate sites in the Russian River Valley and Bennett Valley appellations. The winery has developed relationships with several notable vineyards including Walker Vine Hill, Obsidian, and Richards Family vineyards. Rather than owning extensive vineyard land, Donelan has built its program around partnerships with dedicated growers who farm sites with specific microclimates suitable for Rhône varieties.
The wine portfolio centers primarily on Syrah and other Rhône varieties, with single-vineyard Syrah bottlings forming the cornerstone of production. Donelan also crafts Grenache and Rhône-style blends, including "Cuvée Moriah" (a Grenache blend) and "Cuvée Christine" (a Syrah blend). Beyond these Rhône-inspired offerings, the winery produces Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from selected cooler sites, rounding out a focused collection that showcases Sonoma's diverse terroir.
Philosophy & Practice
Donelan's winemaking approach emphasizes the expression of site-specific characteristics in their wines. All grapes are hand-harvested, preserving fruit quality from vineyard to winery. The production methods include the use of native yeast fermentations for certain wines and whole cluster fermentation techniques for select Syrah bottlings, practices that enhance complexity and terroir expression.
For aging, Donelan primarily employs French oak barrels with measured use of new oak, allowing the fruit and vineyard character to remain prominent. This balanced approach to winemaking has resulted in wines that showcase both ripeness and acidity, earning recognition from major wine critics with numerous 90+ point scores.
Operating as a small-production, boutique winery, Donelan has established itself as a specialist producer of cool-climate Syrah in California. Their commitment to site-specific winemaking and focus on Rhône varieties in Sonoma's cooler regions has helped define their distinctive place in California's wine landscape.