Donnachadh Family Wines
Story behind the label
Donnachadh name, pronounced Donna-ka, is the Gallic form of proprietors’ last name. It’s an old version of Duncan. The Duncan Clan has a rich history marked by the spirit of adventure and venture. Generations ago, its ancestors made the long journey from Scotland to America in pursuit of a new life. The Duncan family crest on the wine label illustrates the true nature of such a journey, depicting a demasted ship surrounded by waves. The crest captures the maritime influence that would last for generations to come, as well as the values of hard work and integrity that continue to shape the identity of the Clan to this day.
Vineyard
Family owned and organically farmed, Donnachadh Vineyard is located on Santa Rosa Road, in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA of Santa Barbara County. The property is 285 acres with approximately 40 acres under vine. We grow Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah and a little bit of Gamay Noir.
The climate of the Santa Rita Hills is dominated by the Pacific Ocean, which lies about 9 miles from the vineyard. Morning fog cools the grapes and consistent afternoon ocean breezes keep heat from building up over the course of the day.
The vineyard consists of two main parts: the hillside blocks, and the riverside blocks. The riverside blocks sit alongside the Santa Ynez River. They are more sheltered from the wind than the hillside blocks and the soil is a delicate and well drained sandy loam that sits on top of deep layers of gravel river deposits. The hillside blocks are more exposed to the ocean winds. The soil there is derived from marine shale deposits and features more clay, rocks and cobbles than the riverside blocks. Overall, the hillside environment is quite challenging for the vines, limiting yields and producing grapes of exceptional character.
Philosophy
We strive to make wines that express the beauty of this amazing place. We are inspired by the wines of Burgundy and the Northern Rhone, but want to make wines that recognize the uniqueness of this site. The cool climate and ocean breeze allow the grapes to ripen more slowly, developing rich, complex flavors while still retaining a bright natural acidity. There is a noticeable salinity, too, that further reminds one of the maritime environment that the wines come from. Finally, the varied terrain and soils, from the steep, rocky upper hillside to the gently rolling riverside blocks allow us to develop a lot of complexity and contrast within a relatively small area.
At harvest, we try to walk the line between capturing pleasing, ripe fruit flavors and keeping in touch with the subtle flavors and aromas that really make the site unique. We want to produce wines that express the fruit, the sun, the soil and, overall, have a feeling of depth, transparency, and inner calm. We want to make wines that will pair well with a meal, but that will also stand up to closer scrutiny -- that can be rewarding on their own.
Biography
Drew and Laurie Duncan started to look for a site to make their own wine in 2009. They decided on Santa Barbara after falling in love with the area, people and the wines of course. Finally by the end of 2012, they found a site that checked all the boxes. Hard work of cultivating and planting the vines began in 2013. Shortly after, they met Ernst Storm during wine dinner at Les Marchands in Santa Barbara. Drew's and Ernst's wine philosophies matched perfectly. 2016 marked first vintage of Donnachadh wines. We made Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah, but have Gamay and Grenache planted. In December will be bottling our first Gamay wines and plan to release it in 2021. We also made first syrah rose in 2020. Grenache vines have few more years to mature.
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