Pax Wine Cellars was founded in 2000 by Pax Mahle, a self-trained winemaker, and Joe Donelan, an investor and wine collector who owned 55% of Pax Wine Cellars. The Sonoma County winery became a cult producer of single-vineyard Syrahs. But in 2008 the founders had a falling out, and Pax Mahle left the company. Mahle went on to found Wind Gap Wines, and Donelan changed the name of Pax Wine Cellars to Donelan. Donelan makes Syrah, Viognier, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and a Rhone-style blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre.