At the Donum Estate, our pursuit of excellence and ensuring quality in all that we do begins with stewardship of the land —Donum, in fact, is Latin for gift. We believe that in order for the vines to produce the highest-quality fruit possible and yield a true expression of the land, it is critical to start with healthy, living soils.
We are committed to regenerative organic farming practices and products that respect the soil, the many organisms that call our vineyard home, and the surrounding land. Donum’s regenerative organic practices include soil enrichment, integrated pest management, and encouraging biodiversity in and around the vineyards. Specifically, this includes brewing and applying compost tea, incorporating sheep, chickens and ducks for weed and pest management, and producing and utilizing biochar.
After years of work to refocus on long-term sustainability and soil health, we have achieved organic certification of our several Estate vineyards by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) organization and Regenerative Organic Certified® by the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA). These achievements represent the beginning of a generational commitment to working in harmony with nature to grow the best possible wine grapes, while also giving back more to the land than we take each year.
Donum Estate was founded in 2001 on 190 acres of idyllic, rolling hills in Carneros, and has since expanded to include several Estate vineyards. The winemaking team has an intimate knowledge of each micro-terroir, driving them to produce small-lot, limited-production wines that fully express the nuance and complexity of each vineyard site.
Just five miles from the Pacific ocean with western-facing slopes exposed to constant onshore winds, this is truly one of the most rugged and challenging vineyard sites in Sonoma. Boasting Goldridge, Kinman, and Blucher soils, this site offers exceptional quality potential, with great diversity in a small area. It has been certified organic since its inception in 2019 and we harvested our first crop in the fall of 2024.
Spanning nearly 200 acres, the Donum Vineyard is home to our oldest plantings, the Donum Home, our state-of-the-art production facility, and our renowned art collection, The Donum Collection. Nestled in the rolling hills that rise from the San Pablo Bay, the vineyard is divided into more than 25 distinct blocks and sub-blocks, each showcasing a diverse array of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay clones—including a proprietary Donum clone and heirloom selections. Planted between 1990 and 2022, these estate vines are meticulously farmed by Donum’s dedicated winemaking and vineyard teams.
In 2023, Donum acquired the iconic 52-acre Savoy Vineyard, a historic site planted in 1991 by Richard Savoy in the heart of Anderson Valley near the confluence of Gowan Creek and the Navarro River. Known for its cool climate, high winds and exceptional soil, Savoy is home to over 40 acres of established Pinot Noir and a small block of Chardonnay, with vines dating back to the mid-1990s. This acquisition marked Donum’s first established vineyard purchase and a significant milestone in expanding its estate portfolio. With the 2023 vintage, Donum introduced its first Savoy wines.
Planted in 1997 and acquired by Donum in 2013, the Ten Oaks Vineyard lies in the heart of the Russian River Valley appellation. This vineyard sits in a warmer microclimate, yielding a richer, more powerful style of Pinot Noir. In 2015, we grafted a small, 2-acre block of Pinot Noir over to Chardonnay, allowing us to bottle our first vintage of Russian River Chardonnay in 2016. The soils in this section are loamy with high sand content allowing for good drainage, which is perfect for Chardonnay.
Originally planted in 1974 by Thomas Ferguson, this ranch officially became part of the Donum portfolio in 2016, though we had sourced fruit from this site for our Carneros Estate Pinot Noir during the 2000s. Following a complete vineyard redevelopment, we harvested our first fruit from this property in 2021. Just a mile away from our Estate, TFV stands out for its rocky terrain, scattered with large cobblestones, and its lighter-colored, silica-rich soils. These conditions make it one of the most unique sites in Carneros for both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Our stewardship of the land does not end with our vineyards. The Estate in Carneros includes a regenerative organic certified lavender field, olive tree grove, and plum orchard, along with a robust culinary and cutting garden. This contributes to the holistic sensory experience of our guests, and promotes biodiversity, contributing to healthy soil – a pillar of regenerative organic farming.
Working with local makers, we have created the Donum Home Collection, a tribute to the earthly beauty of the Estate’s natural gifts. From tea and Estate olive oil, to organic lavender-infused culinary salt and honey, these thoughtfully created, authentic expressions of Donum reflect our love of and respect for the land that we nurture.
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