Part of a series of Chardonnay Winery blogs
What's Their Story:
Businessman Kerry J. Murphy, Restauranteur Michael Verlander, and winemaker Max Gasiewicz, whose children Duncan and Molly inspired the winery's name, founded DuMOL in 1996. After Mr. Gasiewicz's passing, Paul Hobbs assumed the role of winemaker. Andy Smith became the full-time winemaker and then later partner in 2000. The current owners are the trio of Tom Pillsbury, Reed Renaudin, and Andy Smith. DuMOL Winery is known primarily for its cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The "cool climate" descriptor is important because it immediately tells the consumer that the wine will be less alcoholic, brighter with more acid, and more elegant.
As they say, the devil is in the details. For DuMOL, the details are in the dirt, Or rather soil; dirt is a subset of soil, so all dirt is soil, for not all soil is dirt. Soil has a tremendous impact on how a wine tastes. Most of DuMOL Winery's Chardonnay wine is grown in Green Valley sub-AVA (remember those, American Viticultural Areas), whose soil is primarily sandstone. Sandstone and Chardonnay grapes are a good combination as sandstone promotes grapes with good acid, which makes great Chardonnay. Dig it? (Sorry, I couldn't resist).
Why The Winery Made The Grade: Chardonnay
California Chardonnay's have undergone a major shift, as many wine publications have documented. Instead of the big, oaky, buttery Chardonnays of the past, many California wineries are now vinifying lighter, leaner, more refined wines. I'm all for it. Chardonnay wine should be a big tent and offer wines with different flavor profiles.
DuMOL Winery is one of these wineries whose Chardonnay wine epitomizes this shift. To my mind, their Chardonnay's showcase the best of what cool-climate Chardonnay's offer. I think a quote from DuMOL's winemaker sums up their philosophy about a hands-off approach to winemaking, saying it is best: "Quality wine is grown in concert with the land, the climate, and the human hand."
Ambiance:
DuMOL Winery's tasting salon is bright, modern, and comfortable. Tastings are very personalized. Conveniently located next to Grand Cru in Windsor, it is another winery that offers an intimate view of the ins and outs of winemaking. A special note: I strongly recommend looking at DuMOL's website and joining their email distribution. They offer some of the best informative brochures and are great for people just starting their wine journey.
Which Winery Visitor Type Would Love It:
Authenticity Seekers and Oenophiles would enjoy a visit. Luxury Seekers and Casual Wine Drinkers probably not so much, may find luxury lacking. However, I think that should be overlooked because the wine is so amazing.
Details:
Address: 1400 American Way, Windsor, CA 95492
Phone: (707) 948-7144
Website: www.dumol.com
Hours: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Daily
Appointments Required
Tours/Tastings Offered: DuMOL Winery offers a $90.00 tasting of 5 wines.
Read the next blog in the Chardonnay series: Grgich Hills Estate
Or read all of the Chardonnay blogs in our new guide, Chardonnay Wineries of Sonoma and Napa.
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