Donum Estate, a harmonious blend of wine, art, and nature, is a winery located in the heart of Carneros in Sonoma County. Renowned for its exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the winery offers an experience where sculpture and wine converge.

I had the chance to meet with Dan Fishman, the Vice President of Vineyards and the Winery at Donum Estate to talk about the story.

Dan’s Story

Dan is the winemaker responsible for the wines at Donum Estates. In college, he took a wine appreciation course at Cornell University that started his love for wine. After working in retail and interning for several wineries, he joined Donum Estates in 2007. He was named the head winemaker in 2012.

The History of the Winery

The winery was established in the early 2000s when Wine Veteran Anne Moller-Racke acquired land in the Carneros region of Sonoma County. Her vision was to create a vineyard that would produce exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, truly reflecting the unique terroir of the region and the potential of the land.

The name “Donum” is Latin for “gift,” and from the beginning the winery was farmed sustainably as the land was seen as something that must be nurtured and cherished. Almost 25 years later, that commitment to sustainability still holds true.

In 2005, Allan and Mei Warburg, passionate art collectors, purchased the winery. Seeing the parallels between wine and art, they decided to transform the estate into an outdoor sculpture garden combined with the vineyards.

When the Warburg’s bought the property, they brought their personal art collection. Under the stewardship of the Warburg’s, Donum Estates has flourished. The winery has become known producing elegant and complex Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, showcasing the best of the Carneros region.

The Winemaking Philosophy

Dan’s sustainable approach is certified organic, with a focus on biodynamics and regenerative farming. It centers around minimal intervention, allowing the grapes to express their true character. He believes the unique characteristics of the land should be reflected in the wine and the vineyard is managed to nurture the soil. Donum uses native yeast and small lot fermentation, composts products, has an organic garden, uses cover crops as well as limited manipulation, and has recently introduced sheep to the vineyards. A recent effort to conserve water reduced irrigation by 50 percent. The importance of people remains a core tenant as employees are paid a living wage. Each person on the winemaking team is assigned a parcel on the vineyard they are responsible for maintaining and updating the team.

The winery primarily has four vineyards in Carneros, Russian River, and Anderson Valley. All are certified regenerative vineyards except for Savoy, which is currently undergoing the process.

Dan talked about farming changes that resulted in a more restrained and elegant style. We tried four wines that hadn’t been released yet to consumers. I can see why Donum has a great reputation as an elite class of Pinot Noir. As a side note, these wines reflect the effort made three years ago to replant the Pinot vineyards in Carneros.

• 2022 Donum Carneros Chardonnay – I tasted notes of citrus, pear, apple, vanilla, and oak with a great minerality.
• 2022 Donum Carneros Pinot Noir – I tasted sassafras, blackberry, cherries, flowers, spice, and terroir.
• 2022 Donum TFV Pinot Noir – I tasted notes of blackberry, terroir, cassis, spice, and cocoa. This was the first vineyard in Carneros planted back in 1974. For years, they bought fruit from the vineyard until they had the chance to acquire it in 2016. It’s known for its rocky soil; you can taste it in the wine.
• 2022 Donum Three Hills Pinot Noir – this vineyard is named for the three prominent hills located on the vineyard. I tasted notes of cherry, blackberry, blueberry, oak, spice, and it had a nice minerality.

I know it’s often a wine cliché, but it is evident these wines express the place they are from.  Dan talked about how it’s a failure to him if wines taste the same each year.

With the hiring of a national sales manager, the winery has expanded to 28 states with another 10 in final stages and eight international markets. The winery has grown from 2,500 cases in 2012 to around 13,000 cases today.

Donum Estate is a blend of art, nature, and winemaking. With a commitment to sustainability and a deep appreciation for the unique terroir of Carneros, the winery has established itself as a leader in producing award-winning Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Under the guidance of winemaker Dan Fishman, Donum continues to evolve, pushing the boundaries of sustainable viticulture while crafting differentiated wines that truly reflect the essence of the land.

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