Joe Donelan began his journey of wine discovery in the 1980s, led by an inspired sommelier at TOPPER’S Restaurant on Nantucket. His love of wine soon led him on a journey to California, where he established Donelan Family Wines.
From their extraordinary vineyards, the Donelans produce compelling wines year after year, doing their best to read vineyard cues and allow their terroir to shine.
Joe Donelan’s philosophy is that the best wines are not made but discovered and he leads his winemaking team to take great pride in harnessing the best qualities and natural variations in each vineyard and embracing the mystery of what nature offers. Well loved by the Nantucket community, you will quickly learn why the Donelan family and their exquisite wines are somewhat of a legend both on island and across the US.