2022 Donati Family Vineyards Petit Verdot – Strong, Bold and Flavorful
Background
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Donati generally means “gift” from the Latin “Donatus”. Their wines are truly gifts for wine connoisseurs.
By Eric 先魁Hwang – https://www.flickr.com/photos/travelwitheric/4008426871/
Petit Verdot is a variety of red wine grapes classically used in Bordeaux blends. It ripens much later than other varieties in Bordeaux, so it was not cultivated to the extent in other portions of the world. The key to Petit Verdot is that it adds tannin, color and flavor when used in small amounts for blending. In the “new world” it has taken off as a standalone varietal. It is speculated that Petit Verdot predates Cabernet Sauvignon, yet the origins are unclear. First records of it appear in the eighteenth century. It is known for much hotter climates, making Paso Robles perfect for this grape!
Per the latest Grape Harvest report by the USDA, Petit Verdot was less than .0077% of the total red wine grape harvest with most going for blending. The AVA’s responsible for 76% of the total Petit Verdot production was Napa, Yolo County, Santa Barbara, San Joaquin and Riverside/San Diego areas.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
This wine is 98.5% Petit Verdot, 1.1% Petite Sirah and .4% Malbec. It is currently slated to be released in late Spring 2026 with only 76 cases being produced. The grapes come from the Bordonaro Vineyard, and the price is slated to be $56/bottle. Donati Family has been producing this as a standalone varietal since 2008! This vintage was allowed to age gracefully for 27 months in barrels. 25% of the barrels were brand new Eastern European oak and the balance of 75% was used more than once. When released it will have been bottled for over one year.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine, when poured into the glass possessed a dark and mysterious magenta color with a medium-heavy viscosity. On the nose, aromas of black fruits of blackberry, plum and violets rise up into the senses. On the palate, this intensely layered wine provides the aforementioned fruits, coupled with a mellow earthiness. Key characteristics are vanilla and hazelnut counterbalanced by lavender and dried herbs. At the end, this is an inky and bold wine with layers of enjoyment. Personally, I believe this to be a wine to be enjoyed with food as opposed to be a standalone wine.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine was chosen this evening to be paired with a stir-fried flank steak. The beef was thinly sliced, tossed in Chaka sauce with Dark & Smoky Flatiron Peppers, kosher salt, black pepper and stir fried on the stovetop. Served with white sesame seeds. Added to the stir fry were broccoli and slices of red pepper. Accompanied with homemade cauliflower rice with egg, onion and pork.
The wine being bold was able to cut thru the meat and yet provide just enough fruit to envelop the lightly spiced meat. Another very good food and wine pairing dinner
The Winery
Photo from Donati Family Vineyard
We met Briana Heywood, the winemaker, two years ago while in Paso Robles. They had won the Best of Class and Double Gold for their Cabernet Franc at the 6th International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition and wanted to understand other wines they produced. Her background prior to joining the Donati Family was at J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines for almost 10 years as an enologist and previous experience with a variety of wineries. She is engaging and energetic with a personality that you just love listening to!
The winery produces both a larger scale commercial wine offering and very small artisan & boutique wines for direct customer purchase and their wine club with approximately 600 cases produced for DTC. They are located at 2720 Oak View Road in Templeton, California. Their tasting room is quaint and inviting and more like a family room atmosphere. Many of their other wines are for commercial and mass production with approximately 7,000 cases for the wholesale market. They are moderately priced for the consumer and a welcome change!
While not one of the “big major names” in Paso Robles AVA, they are getting noticed by wine aficionados and discerning wine drinkers. FYI, Briana will be pouring her wines at the Cabernet Franc Wine Stroll (Cab Franc and many others) on March 28th https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2026/02/03/7th-annual-cabernet-franc-and-many-other-wine-varieties-wine-stroll-on-march-28th/
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly