Got this today.
For those of you who love Donelan Family Wines, we are pleased to introduce you to David Philbin as our new Head Winemaker at Donelan Family Wines. David’s unique background and knowledge of the science of winemaking is innovative and authentic, making him the perfect addition to our family. David grew up with an intense love for food and a deep appreciation for quality ingredients. As a teenager, he was fascinated by the fermentation process and began experimenting with making wine and beer with his dad in their family basement. David’s talent for winemaking has something genuine that sets him apart. He has what is fundamental to winemaking culture, what has carried the practices throughout history, and what we feel is one of the most important elements of winemaking - roots.
Upon graduating from Oregon State University, David chased his dream and cut his teeth as a harvest intern at Tamber Bey Winery followed by a cellar position at Hunnicutt, a high-end crush facility. Here, David crafted wines for Schrader, Maybach Family Vineyards and Rivers-Marie where he worked with some of the finest grapes that wine country has to offer. David continued to pursue his passion as the Assistant Winemaker at Relic Wine Cellars in Napa Valley, a small, family-owned label specializing in Rhône and Bordeaux varietals and coastal Pinot Noirs. As a winemaking business that is also a family, we value stories in the same ways we value wine. The truly unique ones have a crafted mix of time, place, and passion. David’s story of working with a wide range of varietals is few and far between, and one we are lucky to help him continue with in the beauty of his winemaking.
While we can’t wait to begin our journey with David, we tip our hats to our beloved winemaker for the last 5 years, Joe Nielsen. Joe honed his impressive skills at Donelan, creating bold and individualistic wines in a way that embody the loyalty we have to our land and our family. We are inspired by his voracious appetite for exploring everything from vineyard sites to cellar techniques, and we look forward to having him stay with our family as Consultant Winemaker for the upcoming year. With each acre of grapes, Joe bottled and corked the stories of the Donelan family. David and Joe will work alongside one another, adding pages to those stories and continuing to make fantastic wines.
David is eager to dig deeper into what we do here at Donelan Family Wines - that is, making great wines from unparalleled vineyards. From one vintage to the next, we craft our wines by listening to what the terroir is telling us. Our vineyards are our orchestra, and we look forward to all things to come with our newest conductor.