Nestled in the Sonoma Valley side of the beautiful Carneros AVA district you will find The Donum Estate. Donum, which is focused on showcasing the expression of terroir through single vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines, is also home to The Donum Art Collection, one of the largest privately owned sculpture collections in the world, making The Estate a must visit for art and wine lovers alike.
Donum, meaning “gift of the land” in Latin, was founded in 2001 and is comprised of 220 acres with approximately 100 of those planted to vines. Committed to organic farming practices to produce world class wines their Estate vineyards have been certified by the Regenerative Organic Alliance and by the California Certified Organic Farmers organization. Their commitment to the land can also be appreciated as you explore the centenary olive trees and fragrant lavender field adorning The Estate.
The art collection featured throughout the property is comprised of more than 50 pieces by artists from all over the world. Married harmoniously with their landscape, the sculptures will undoubtedly awaken your senses and curiosities as you walk their grounds. Some of our favorites were the famous mirror heart by artist Richard Hudson titled “Love Me”, the giant bonsai tree, “Held by Desire”, by Marc Quinn and the “Zodiac Heads”, which happen to be the inspiration for their labels, by artist Ai Weiwei.
Highlighting fruit from Anderson Valley, Carneros and the Russian River Valley, Donum is crafting elegant small production wines. Their 2020 Carneros and Russian River Valley Chardonnays are two of the best we have enjoyed this year. With just 409 cases produced of the Carneros and 457 of the Russian River Valley these two might be elusive but are certainly worth searching for. Their 2020 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, which was made with grapes rescued from the flames of the fires at 3:00 in the morning, is one that made it home with us. Bursting with fruit and accompanied by elegant tannins this one is drinking beautifully now and most likely will drink even better in the next few years. Only 852 cases were made of this jewel grown in The Winside Vineyard, which was planted in 1997 and is comprised of 14 acres in the heart of the Russian River Valley.
With easy access from San Francisco and Napa Valley, if you are looking for a colorful time when visiting Sonoma Valley, a tasting experience at The Donum Estate is undoubtedly a work of art.
