2017 Donelan Venus

Donelan is the former Pax Wine Cellars of Sonoma, California, but with a new winemaker and point of view. It is owned by investor and wine connoisseur Joe Donelan, who previously owned the majority interest in Pax Wine Cellars with Pax Mahle, who was Pax's winemaker. Mahle left Pax Winery in 2008 after he and Donelan had a falling out and became involved in a lawsuit. Donelan makes Syrah, Viognier, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and a Rhone-style blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. The winemaker at Donelan is Tyler Thomas. Robert M. Parker Jr. has complimented Donelan's "exceptionally elegant portfoilio" of wines.

Sonoma County is not an AVA, but it is a commonly used informal designation for wines made outside of more specific AVAs within Sonoma, which is a large wine producing region just west of Napa Valley. Though Sonoma is often overshadowed by its glamorous neighbor Napa Valley, it has a long history of wine production. The area specialized in jug wine until the mid-20th century, when Sonoma producers took a cue from Napa and started improving quality. Unlike Napa, where Cabernet Sauvignon is king, Sonoma specialized in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, though excellent Cabs are produced too. There are at present 16 AVAs within Sonoma County, and, like much of the West Coast of the United States, new AVAs are created in Sonoma County with regularity. Some Sonoma appellations, such as the Russian River Valley, are renowned for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.