Donum, which means gift of the land, is located in Sonoma County, California, in the Carneros wine region. I am a European who has lived over half my life in Asia, I am married to a Chinese woman who studied in Australia and now I also produce wine in California. Writing about all things dance music, food and wine. No expense was spared at presenting a world class collection of sculpture. Donum Estate will expand its portfolio of wines this harvest with its first vintage of pinot from the renowned Savoy Vineyard in Mendocino County. . The Donum Estate is located in Sonoma, Calif. This is the start. The experience includes a recreational vehicle tour of the estates fine art collection (you will be able to get out of the vehicle to take photos) and a delicious gourmet prepared lunch paired with Donums amazing wines in the 360 degree tempered stained glass Vertical Panorama Pavilion. The result is limited production of high quality, award winning wines. FEL represented the initials of owner Cliff Ledes mother, Florence Elsie Lede. One of California's most treasured Pinot Noir vineyards has changed hands. To visit the Donum Estate is to experience the gift of the land. Finishes on a similar note with tobacco and spice. Both of them stimulate the senses, and at Donum they both enhance the perceptions of this already special place., The estate recently opened a new hospitality space. Suave on the attack and plush on the palate. We got to know the artists, which naturally led to owning their works and building a collection. Donum Estate is already a step ahead in that the land already was being farmed organically. It touches a lot of senses, Warburg said. We produce 8,000 cases of estate-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay a year, everything we do has to complement one another, from harvest to sustainable farming. Aged in 90% new French oak. Have belief in artists, your collaborators. We hope to keep seeing a wide range of new audiences coming to enjoy what we have made. From a distance, they look like a group of men. Earlier this year, Donum sold off a portion of its Carneros property in a separate deal. more, Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley Including Lunch, Sonoma Wine Rides -- Join in Group Wine Tasting Tours, 5 hr Guided Wine Country Tour in Sonoma on an Electric Trike, Small-Group Wine-Tasting Tour through Napa Valley, 3 hr Guided Wine Country Tour in Sonoma on Electric Trike (2 person min), #1 Sonoma Walking Food, Wine & History Tour (Small Groups), Napa Valley Open Air Wine Trolley Tour with Lunch, 6 Hour Napa or Sonoma Valley Wine Tour by Private SUV, Napa Valley's Best Wine Tour w/ Local Expert, 6-Hour Private Limousine Tour for Napa and Sonoma Valley Wineries, Independent Hassle-free Bike Rental in Sonoma. The first sculpture they bought for Donum was a piece called Artificial Rock by Zhan Wang. The grounds were spacious and provided the perfect backdrop for the art. How Roberto Toscano Transformed His Grief into an Art A How to Build an Atypical Interior with the Fruit of an A Journey between Generative Art and Classical Chinese Art. Aged in 100% new French oak. What underlies both art and wine is passion, she notes. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Please try again. The Donum Estate has also incorporated some of the art into their labels, Moller-Racke says. How did you start collecting contemporary art? Donum was created in 2001 when Racke sold Buena Vista Winery to Allied Domecq but retained 200 acres, including the former Tula Vista vineyard, which was renamed Donum Estate. This experience transcends all previous wine tastings/ experiences/ tours. The estates ros was released around Valentines Day, so the label depictsRichard Hudsons 24-foot stainless steel heart sculpture, titled Love Me, thats onsite. Doug Aitken came out to see the land and then came up with a completely different idea, Faurschou said. With the purchase, Donum Estate now owns 370 total acres, of which 208 are planted 130 in Carneros, 16 in Russian River Valley, 20 on the Sonoma Coast/Bodega Bay area, and now 42 in Anderson . Located in a former dairy farm in the Carneros region of Sonoma, Donum creates Pinot Noir from its vineyards in the Russian River and Anderson Valley regions of Northern California. The World's Premier Art Magazine since 1913. It acts as a giant wind chime and as the Carneros terroir blows, we hear it sounds its characteristic chords. It appears to be fresher and brighter than the other Pinot Noirs in the line-up. When this opportunity became available in January, it was a no-brainer for us.. Make sure to bring comfortable shoes for the walk around the grounds because the art is worth seeing! A blend of Dijon and heritage clones, it reveals a lovely, full palate with very rich dense flavors of dark cherry and wood spice. With new additions being added to the art collection each year, visitors always have a reason to return. Ryan Hodgins was winemaker and director of operations for FEL Wines, while Sarah Green was winemaker for FEL Wines. Stroll through the grounds and you will come across Ai Weiweis animal Zodiac Heads; a huge dotted pumpkin cast in bronze by Yayoi Kusama; a nightmarish spider from Louise Bourgeois; as well as work by Keith Haring, Elmgreen & Dragset, Yue Minjun, Jaume Plensa, Subodh Gupta, Danh Vo, Richard Hudson and Tracey Emin, among many others. Indeed, Donum was never about making a sculpture park, says Warburg. 170 room hotel, mix of hotel rooms and personally owned condos. Donum Estate 2017 Pinot Noir Angel Camp Vineyard Anderson Valley ($125) 93(Re-tasted) The 2017 Donum Pinot Noir Angel Camp Vineyard is a big ripe wine offering aromas of spicy pomegranate with notes of soy and smoky underbrush. The Donum Estate has one of the largest accessible, privately-owned outdoor sculpture experiences in the world that has made it an international destination. There one can walk around vineyards appreciating the sculptural works by Yayoi Kusam. The new work is set to be displayed indoors at the estates visitor center designed by Danish architect David Thulstrup. As well as the award-winning vines, the couple enriched the grounds with 150-year-old olive trees, lavender bushes. Is there a theme that unites them? Fresh on the palate with dark, peppery spices. Our new owners thoroughly appreciate and support this approach. 24500 Ramal Road, From there, one can see a few works from the art collection, Thomas J Prices Reaching Out, Ugo Rondinone, Nuns + monks and Tracey Emins All I Want is You, with views of the Sonoma mountains and San Francisco Bay as the backdrop. Mei, who was born in China, has planted an orchard of over 100 plum trees. The only advice that we wish to pass on is belief. If the Transcend is a bit beyond your price point, I highly suggest the Discover, Explore or just the Art Tour for a 10 experience. beehives and an organic farm. Your subscription has been confirmed. Warburg says that the estate revolves around the rhythm of the wine production cycle, with the harvests usually taking place around August and September. This blog offers brief articles and wine reviews for the i-WineReview community members of the trade and discerning wine consumers around the world. Before acquiring the Donum Estate in 2010, the Warburgs had been collecting for years, mainly in China, where they started living in the 1990s. When his brother told him that the winery was up. Contact Us, For immediate assistance after hours, pleasecall707-732-1508. Here, works by Ai Weiwei, Robert Indiana, Doug Aitken, and many more line the northern Californian landscape. Initially, an art acquisition program was not part of the plan, but eventually, when the Warburgs became more familiar with the estates vast terrain, things shifted. Donum Estate 2017 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley ($85) 92 Big on the nose. 1.5 Hours | $150 per person This 90-minute experience is ideal for guests who love to explore the Donum Estate, whether visiting for the first time or are loyal members seeking to deepen their knowledge of the estate. With all the wonderful art, the quality of the award-winning wines must not be forgotten. Donum Estates last vintage from the Anderson Valley AVA was in 2021. The Donum Estate has also incorporated some of the art into their labels, Moller-Racke says. The Donum Estate is a paradise on earth for art and wine lovers. You'll soak in the natural surroundings of the terroir and delight in the large-scale sculptures that organically dot the landscape. Our mission is to harmoniously weave art throughout the Donum landscape and create new perspectives and experiences in unifying art, wine, and the environment., With a commitment to growing the collection, the first commission to be unveiled in 2019 is the Peoples Tree by Subodh Gupta, a striking 10m-high stainless-steel banyan tree with utensils as leaves, following its display at La Monnaie de Paris. We often think back to happy moment In the late afternoon, when the sun starts its descent on the rolling Sonoma vineyards, wed love to take a seat up at the lake house. The winery is also known for its outdoor art collection. While I have attached quite a few photos to this review, they really dont do the art justice. It is an investment for our pleasure, and those who visit.. Copyright 2023 Wine Spectator. Spicy, dark fruited nose showing dark plum and cherry with dense tobacco nuances. A couple of years ago, we commissioned Doug Aitken, the work is called Sonic Mountain and is sited within our eucalyptus grove. Founded in 2001 by Anne Moeller-Racke, a pioneer in the development of Los Carneros as a wine growing region, Donum Estate is currently owned by Danish investors who have expanded the estates vineyard holdings and made noteworthy improvements to the operation, including magnificent landscaping, artwork and sculptures by prominent artists. For example, the vineyards are all certified organic, with a focus on biodynamics and regenerative farming. Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The estate boasts over 35 works on display. It started in China; my wife and I met in Beijing and lived in a burgeoning artist community for nearly three decades. Winside Inc. has acquired Donum Estate and its sister brand Robert Stemmler from Racke, a German wine and spirits group, for an undisclosed amount. One moves from owning to sharing. In a prepared statement, the Lede Family said, "Having recently celebrated 20 years in Napa Valley, and with the next generation assuming leadership roles, Ledes vision is to deepen the winerys original roots with an unwavering focus on Napa Valley. Elsewhere, there is an Ai series of 12 standing bronze animal heads, each representing a Chinese zodiac sign. The winery will also continue to make Pinot from the 16-acre Nugent Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. Retired judge owns up to misconduct in theft from Tuskegee Airman. LARRYS LIST has the great pleasure to have spoken with art collector couple Mei and Allan Warburg, who explained why Donum is not just a sculpture park within a wine estate, the challenges when installing the artworks at the Estate, their 2022 plan to build a new pavilion in collaboration with artist Olafur Eliasson and architect Sebastian Behmann, and their visions for The Donum Estate in the years to come. Today, that property is home to more than 50 works, the majority of which are large-scale installations host to metallic forms and figures responding to the natural landscape. Donum is a leader in single-vineyard, single-appellation Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Northern California. Terms of Use When his brother told him that the winery was up for sale, he put the wheels in motion and within the year he and his wife Mei were majority owners. These custom wines are delicious. For us, as we continue to add to the collection, we spend more time researching new artists we bring into the collection. Courtesy of The Donum Estate. The Promenade Trust . The estates ros was released around Valentines Day, so the label depicts, The Chinese Zodiac goes by the year, as does the. Vallejo Home: Tickets & Tours, Hue Royal tombs half day afternoon group tour, Tour in spanish to the Tolantongo Caves, leaving Quertaro, Bangkok Meridian Dinner Cruise from ICONSIAM, Land and Sea Duck Tour Historic Adventure, Playa del Carmen Private Transportation From-To Cancun Airport, Skip the Line: Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom Admission Tickets, Lodotherapy in the Totumo Volcano with Visit to Galerazamba. The early 2000s were a time of flux for Beijings cultural scene. It makes . Collectible Design Season: Elisa Strozyk on Integrating LA-Based Art Collectors to Spot Out This Week. We learned a ton about the property and its history, where the art comes from and about biodynamic farming. Born in Denmark in 1967, Allan studied economics in his home country and later enrolled at Yunnan University in China. "It's also the new story you're creating by extending the history of something that someone owned by how you display it and embrace that item. The Donum Estate You may opt-out by. For now, the goal is to spend a bit more time there. We love and respect working with artists many of the artworks take years to come to fruition. The vines were planted close to 30 years ago, said Donum CEO Angelica de Vere-Mabray. For our team on Donum, they have taken on the role of custodian, caring and conserving the works. Although, it is famously know for its chardonnay and Burgundian-style pinot noir wines, it is becoming better know for its high-end sculpture park. But there is a beauty to this. Both Allan and Mei Warburg - the current owners - worked with Anne Moller-Racke alongside a vineyard team, to determine and study the best means for developing the land. We have no favourites. When Allan Warburg purchased the 170 acres of rolling Sonoma vineyards that comprise the Donum Winery, it was out of a long-held passion for wine, which he inherited, like his passion for art, from his father. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. ARTnews is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Back then, you could simply go to most artists studio, and they were so interested in talking to you, Warburg said. Warburg had been drinking the wine for years and loved it. The construction gave us the chance to reflect and rehang part of The Donum Collection and introduce new works. The Donum Estate is a paradise on earth for art and wine lovers. It has excellent concentration on the palate with dark red fruit married to sweet oak and a lush texture. Because we collected him many years before and knew him well, that seemed like the obvious one to start with, said Warburg. One leaves knowing more about the details of making wine. -Racke's connection to the now-117 acres of vines dates back even further, to the early 1980s, when the property was owned by Buena Vista Carneros Winery. Founded in 2001, the Donum Estate is located in the acclaimed . Of course, all this while drinking some of our wines. New additions included Jeppe Heins glass mirror balloons that hang from the ceiling. Donum means 'gift of the land.' We produce only single-vineyard, estate wines from vineyards in Carneros, Russian River Valley and Anderson Valley. Therefore, it has been a natural evolution for us to be approached by artists and dealers for works to be placed on the estate. Certification at its newest vineyard is already in the works. Sonoma Things to Do in Sonoma Donum Estate Donum Estate See all things to do Donum Estate 4.5 45 reviews #32 of 94 things to do in Sonoma Wineries & Vineyards Open now 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Visit website Call Email Write a review What people are saying " Perfect Blending of Wine and Art " Feb 2023 Intersections All rights reserved. snapped up parcels of land around the estate as they. To be certified, a winery must meet certain criteria pertaining to soil health, land management, animal welfare, and how it treats farm workers. What are the challenges when installing the artworks at the Estate? The grounds have interesting sculptures to be viewed. We had previously been to Zhan Wangs studio many times and had already bought a sculpture for our home in Denmark, says Warburg. Oh many, a lot of our artists have been to Donum and visited more than once. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Each one includes wine tasting and a complete or partial outdoor art tour, either walking or in an all-terrain vehicle. This material includes, but is not limited to, the design, layout, look, appearance and graphics. But theres an additional draw beyond its stunning Pinot Noir and Chardonnay: a world-class outdoor sculpture garden with works from Ai Weiwei, Anselm Kiefer, Louise Bourgeois, Richard Hudson, Keith Haring and many others. The Vertical Panorama Pavilion by Artists, Olafur Eliasson and Sebastian Behmann. It starts with a conversation, ideally on site together, drinking our wine, walking the land. When Hudson was producing artworks in China, Warburg arranged a meeting. Fantastic wine tasting experience and world class. Eric Petschek - Photography California's Donum Estate - a 200 acre winery that is equally famed for its pinot noir as its enviable collection of contemporary art - unveiled a new, Scandinavian design for its hospitality centre this week, adding an architectural dimension to its allure. It is located in the Sonoma area off HWY 12. De Vere-Mabray added that Donum Estate hopes to grow the chardonnay side of the acreage. For now, the goal is to spend a bit more time there. Wonderful wine tasting and sculpture garden. Dark red fruit, cassis and spice aromas. There is some open land we want to develop, said Moller-Racke. An herbal nose of dark fruit flavors with hints of vanilla. In years to come there may be an option to open some sort of boutique hotel in the grounds, Warburg hints. It is an honour to hear from leading artists that they would want to see their works placed on Donum. Mimicking a wind chime, the large-scale sculpture (45 x 45ft) work will respond to changes in the surrounding environment. There are five flights for tasting along with a Pinot Noir Rose. It is the philosophy of intermingling art with the care of the vines and landscape and hand-crafting artisan, single vineyard, pinot noir and chardonnay wines. He visits up to five . De Krans: Outstanding Port-Style Wines from Calitzdorp, Adam Lee, John Wagner and Mort Brealynns Pinot Noir Partnership, Stinson Winery Current Releases from Monticello, Barra of Mendocino: Current Releases from the Headwaters of the Russian River, Rioja Oriental: Arizcurens Wines from Old Vines, Riojas New Generation: Sandra Bravo of Sierra de Toloo, C.L. Over the years, the Warburgs snapped up parcels of land around the estate as they became available, and the estate now sprawls across 340 acres. Art, a beautiful landscape and a great glass of wine create a very powerful experience, says Anne Moller-Racke, president, winegrower and founder of The Donum Estate. Owned by Allan and Mei Warburg, both avid art collectors, the 200 acre Donum Estate is home to 50 monumental works of art crafted by world-class artists. The wines are made available only to wine club members and a few select restaurants. This is all an honour and a privilege. One will surely be pleasing to you taste. We are delighted to secure both the land and the expertise behind the brands, including the person who planted these vineyards and has nurtured them for over 20 years, Fredheim said in a statement. Weiweis Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads depicts the 12 animal heads of the traditional Chinese Zodiac, which goes by year similar to how wine vintage goes by year. Since our collection became accessible in 2018, we have steadily been growing our visibility within the local, national, and international art community. We have an evolving collection of a global community of artists, including works from leading practitioners from nearly 20 nations. In the beginning, we had to keep wine tastings outside, and the outdoor art exhibit was naturally a huge draw, states Montalvo. But that was before he fell in love with it. The estate boasts over 35 works on display. Sustainability is at the forefront of our vision. I agree to receive your newsletters and accept the data privacy statement. Subscribe today and save! Your subscription is not success. Among them is Danish art adviser and collector Jens Faurschou, who runs an eponymous foundation devoted to contemporary art with spaces in Beijing, Copenhagen, and New York. The Donum Estate spans over 200 acres, with nearly 150 planted. We try to make the collection as global as possible, Warburg says. Warburg had been drinking the wine for years and loved it. Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton owns properties in Monaco, Geneva, London, and moreinside his global portfolio . Donum is Winsides first foray into the wine business. Moller-Racke remains as president and will continue to oversee Donums vineyards. There one can walk around vineyards appreciating the sculptural works by Yayoi Kusama and Keith Haring while drinking one or more glasses of Pinot Noir a multi-sensory experience. We are looking to create a feeling of a living farm, says Warburg. Racke hired Moller-Racke to replant the vineyard using a variety of Pinot Noir clones. Donum is a winery, the works are placed in the landscape to complement the experience and estate. Currently they average around five visits a year, staying in local hotels, away from their homes in Beijing and Hong Kong, where they live in a breath-taking Frank Gehry-designed skyscraper hugging the side of the Peak. Warburg owns 70 per cent of Donum, with two friends sharing the remainder. Instagram:@donumestate. About LARRY'S LIST For example, this summer Donum Estate unveiled a brand new exhibit by artists, Olafur Eliasson and Sebastian Behmann, called the Vertical Panorama Pavilion. Today, Donum Estate continues to incorporate and expand on these visitor experiences. 126 (2007), made after the Chinese scholars rock in stainless steel. I am thrilled to share the exciting news that The Donum Estate has acquired the iconic Savoy Vineyard in Anderson Valley. But the aim is to play a greater role in the West Coasts art buzz in January and February, when fairs such as Frieze LA, Untitled and Art Los Angeles Contemporary bring art lovers to town. Donum consists of some 190 acres of which 91 are planted across several estate vineyards in Los Carneros, the Russian River Valley, and a leased vineyard in Anderson Valley. Courtesy of The Donum Estate. The floor is made up of dirt from the vineyards, purposely designed to make you feel as if you could be a grapevine growing from the soil toward the sun, wind, and rain. Works find their own context, but one has to be cognisant of how that might take place. Sizes varying from 1, 2, 3 bedroom condos and suites to 5 bedroom private chalets. The finished product ended up being a monumental stainless-steel work that is now installed in a eucalyptus grove, tucked among a set of trees, producing sound with moving winds. Its Chardonnay is produced from the Wente clone. This is a special place. Interior View of Donum Estate Hospitality Center, During the height of the pandemic, many wineries were forced to lay-off staff, but Donum owners, Allan and Mei Warburg, in consultation with Mabray, decided to keep everyone on board. That is really what we are trying to nurture and create with every vineyard we are fortunate to be the stewards of, de Vere-Mabray said. In addition, a new 18-acre vineyard is being planted in 2020-2021 in the hills above the town of Bodega a few miles from the Pacific Ocean in Sonoma County. Well be starting to replant some of the open land and pull up some of the older vineyards., An archaeological dig in southern Israel has uncovered an ancient wine industry and two , With land prices rising, the famed winery acquires 50 acres of vines, primarily in , Massimo Bottura, Michelle Bernstein and Jos Mendn are among the culinary leaders bringing , The Thackrey Library, a massive collection of winemaking and gastronomy texts, finds a new , California and Oregon winemaking legend Tony Soter shares his passion for Pinot Noir, plus, , Considered one of the Loire'smost talented winemakers, he set a new standard for Touraine . Currently they average around five visits a year, staying in local hotels, away from their homes in Beijing and Hong Kong, where they live in a. Frank Gehry-designed skyscraper hugging the side of the Peak. Through our intimate, guided tasting options, you'll explore some of the finest, most exclusive Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that California has to offer. Then with our ownership of Donum, it felt like natural merger, and we started commissioning. It certainly feels like a merger when you look at a bottle of Donum wine, each label emblazoned with an image of the sculptures. We have welcomed many patrons, curators, and artists. Is the one with ATV tour worth extra 50 dollars? What do you want visitors to experience at the Donum Estate? The other goal is to create an art programme. Grape vines were first planted there in 1991 by Richard Savoy. To us, there is nothing more exciting than this combination. Our team learned so much throughout the pandemic, explains Mabray. sale, he put the wheels in motion and within the year he and his wife Mei were majority owners. We have a major focus for the first half of 2022. Can you illustrate with some examples? Rising like a beautiful rainbow colored flower in the midst of the vineyard, the pavilion is designed to reflect the colors of the land and wine. I'd recommend taking your last tasting or a half glass and walk the estate. In addition to its sprawling orchards and endless rows of grapevines, the 200-acre site boasts a world-class winery sculpture garden that intertwines "art, nature, and the human hand." For years, only a select few had walked among Ai Weiwei's zodiac animals, Keith Haring's "King and Queen," and Louise Bourgeois' giant, spindly-legged "Spider." Now, with the recent completion of a. Donum Winery was founded in 2001 as the ultimate Pinot Noir project based on the Burgundian Grand Cru model, with the goal of producing the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. This was our first time to travel outside of the country since the pandemic started, stated Allan Warburg, and we are so pleased to be hereWe believe that when you take beautiful art, ,.a beautiful landscape, and.