Our Family
We’re a boutique Sonoma winery producing Syrah, Grenache, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Roussanne and Viognier. We have elected to prize quality over all other factors. Simply put, we think wine should taste great — with every vintage and every grape, this is our ultimate priority and our greatest motivation. Our working winery is located in Santa Rosa, where our small team puts in their passion and dedication to make Donelan one of the best Sonoma wineries for top-tier Syrah and private tastings.
David Milner
Director of Winemaking and Viticulture
David was born and raised in Fairfield, California. While David was attending Sonoma State University, his roommate worked for a local winery and would bring home wine to taste. This exposure to wine allowed David to discover its qualities and “ignite the spark.” He was surprised at how much there was to learn, and from then on, he was hooked.
The fermentation bug bit David while he was taking an undergraduate brewing class. He continued to hone his skills over batches of home-brewed beer with a few friends, and it left David looking for a new challenge. He had a stint in cheesemaking, but wine would eventually become his real passion. David became Donelan Winemaker in 2018. Read David’s full bio.
About
Maya is from Palo Alto, California, right smack dab in the middle of Silicon Valley. She credits the area for instilling in her a deep appreciation for science and innovation. After a high school year abroad in the Canary Islands, she was officially in love with the convergence of food, wine, and science. She went on to study wine and viticulture at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, then worked at wineries across California, New Zealand, Oregon, and Australia, and joined the Donelan team in 2023 as Cellar Master. Maya loves drinking Northern Rhône varietals and Riesling, but her favorite bottle of Donelan is Tripp’s Block Pinot Noir. She says, “It’s one of our most terroir-driven wines. It tastes exactly how the vineyard looks and feels.”
About
Mackenzie was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska but spent her Junior and Senior years of high school at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. She played ice hockey at College of the Holy Cross (Joe Donelan’s Alma Mater) and while in college, worked for Jackson Family Wines one summer. She joined the Donelan team after graduation in 2016 as our Sales & Operations Analyst and is now the Director of Sales and Operations. When she’s not working, Mackenzie is coaching two club ice hockey teams or enjoying a glass of Donelan Nancie, which she says was the first Chardonnay she ever liked.
About
Chris was raised in the Jersey Shore outside Atlantic City and graduated from Syracuse University. He’s worked in and out of hospitality since he was 17 years old and has had diverse experience, including politics, bartending for the Waldorf Astoria in Key West, running an Auberge wine program, and working harvest and hospitality for a boutique Napa winery. Chris joined Donelan Family Wines in 2023 as our Sales & Hospitality Associate. He acts as a personal wine concierge for clients and customers, hosts guests in our tasting room, and represents Donelan at food and wine events. Chris’s current favorite Donelan wines are the 2017 Syrah Grande, 2019 Cardiac Hill, and 2014 Richards Syrah, adding that he’s a “Huge umami fan. Give me savory all day and those three wines have it in spades.”
About
Savannah-Jane grew up in rural Georgia surrounded by writing, art, food, and time-honored respect for farming and the outdoors. After graduating from the University of Georgia, she accepted a job with a wine marketing agency in Napa, California. She became the Account Manager for Donelan Family Wines in 2020 and became an official part of the Donelan team in 2022. She specializes in digital marketing and design, managing our email, website, social media, copywriting, and overall brand. Savannah-Jane says “Donelan was the first wine I ever drank that didn’t give me a migraine. And it still never has.” Her favorite is the Kobler Family Syrah.
Joe Donelan
Founder
Joe began his journey of wine discovery in the 1980s, led by an inspired sommelier at Toppers Restaurant on Nantucket. His love of wine soon led him on a journey to California, where he established a wine business that is now called Donelan Family Wines.
For Joe, exceptional wines gives all of us a personal connection to the land, to nature and the people who make it. He personally calls all new customers and hand-writes thank you notes for each order, whether it’s a single bottle or ten cases. Read Joe’s full bio.
Tripp Donelan
Director of Sales
As Donelan‘s director of sales, Tripp is focused on educating novices and oenophiles alike on his family’s commitment to producing the best wines Sonoma County has to offer. Echoing his family’s dedication to exceptional customer service, Tripp ensures each bottle of wine is delivered with the same level of care that went into its production.
Exposure early in his childhood to some of the world’s finest wines helped cultivate a growing interest in epicurean affairs, that today Tripp still fosters through scallop diving, fishing and his work at the winery. Read Tripp’s full bio.
Cushing Donelan
Director of Marketing
Cushing brings his diverse experience in brand development and entertainment production to Donelan Family Wines. Never one to sit on the sidelines, Cushing saw the opportunity to enhance the brand’s evolution and create new partnerships, and was eager to dig his hands into the family business.
Truly a man of many interests, Cushing studied art history and studio art in college, served as Executive Assistant to actor Matthew McConaughey and his company (j.k. livin productions), and continues to be an Executive Producer with oneinarow productions. Read Cushing’s full bio.
