Donelan Wines | California

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What We Know

Winery overview

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SpecialtySingle-vineyard Syrah program — one of California's most focused cool-climate labels

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LocationDowntown Sonoma Plaza — highly accessible, no appointment needed

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VarietiesSyrah, Grenache, Chardonnay from northern California's finest cool sites

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VibeIntellectually engaged, genuinely passionate

About Donelan Wines

Donelan Wines at 56 West Spain Street in downtown Sonoma is one of California's most focused and intellectually serious single-vineyard Syrah producers, founded in 2003 by Joe and Kathleen Donelan with a singular obsession: finding and expressing the most compelling cool-climate Syrah vineyard sites available in northern California.

The downtown Sonoma Plaza location makes Donelan one of the most accessible serious small-production labels in wine country — a walk-in tasting room where visitors can taste single-vineyard expressions from Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, and other northern California cool-climate sites without the appointment-only barrier that most comparable producers maintain. Syrah is the primary focus, with each vineyard bottling telling a different story about what cool-climate viticulture and site-specific soil profiles contribute to California's most exciting red variety.

Walk-ins are welcome daily from 11am to 5pm with a $30 starting fee. The downtown Sonoma location puts Donelan within easy walking distance of the Sonoma Plaza's restaurants, other tasting rooms, and the historic mission and barracks.

"Donelan is where Syrah obsession meets northern California terroir mastery — a small Sonoma producer making some of the most compelling cool-climate Syrah in the state."

Featured Wines

Red · Signature

Cuvée Christine

Russian River Valley Syrah

The Donelan flagship — single-vineyard cool-climate Syrah of exceptional complexity, showing savory, peppery, mineral character.

~$55

★★★★★

Red Wine

Obsidian Ridge

Lake County Syrah

High-elevation volcanic Syrah with extraordinary density and cooling mineral character — one of California's most distinctive expressions.

~$48

★★★★★

White Wine

Chardonnay

Sonoma Coast

Cool-climate coastal Chardonnay with tension and mineral drive when the winemaker gets out of the way.

~$38

★★★★

Tasting Experiences

Check availability →

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Classic Flight Tasting

Curated flight of current-release wines with knowledgeable hosting.

From $30 · members save

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Picnic on the Grounds

Enjoy the estate setting with wine by the bottle.

Wine by the bottle

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Private Events

Available for private tastings, corporate events, and celebrations.

Inquire directly

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Wine Club Access

Members receive complimentary tastings, allocation priority, and exclusive invitations.

Members only

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★★★★★