About Vision
Founded in 1996, DuMOL is dedicated to crafting highly nuanced, vineyard-focused Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from distinctive sites in the cool-climate Russian River Valley. Winemaker, Viticulturist and Partner Andy Smith leads a small and experienced team at DuMOL, to craft wines of depth, clarity and elegance through attention to detail in the vineyards and vintage-specific winegrowing. DuMOL believes the best fertilizer is the footsteps of the farmer and is dedicated to a portfolio of estate and grower-partner vineyards primarily within a 10 mile radius. Expanding upon twenty-five years of experience, DuMOL also grows and produces small-lot Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, and Mencía from some of the finest vineyards in Sonoma and Napa. The full DuMOL portfolio is released through allocations to the mailing list, with select wines distributed to top restaurants worldwide.
About Team
We live the wine. It’s not just a vocation. It’s very much who we are. Both livelihood and passion. It’s what gets us up in the morning. This is a project that comes from who we are and what we love.
About Press
There’s tremendous personal satisfaction in creating wines that inspire contemplation – and we are encouraged by the feedback our efforts have garnered.
Beyond the Cellar Door
Richard Hemming MW, 67 Pall Mall
Introducing an exciting new series of Beyond the Cellar Door. In collaboration with the California Wine Institute, 67 Pall Mall proudly presents an engaging collection of films delving into the renowned wine regions of Napa and Sonoma, spotlighting key features within the State's wine industry. Presented by Richard Hemming, MW.
In our third pit-stop of the series, Richard visits the Russian River Valley AVA - known for its cool climate due to the proximity to the Pacific Ocean. Here he's discovering DuMOL, and Winemaker/Co-owner Andy Smith, who has had his finger on the pulse of this appellation for nearly a quarter of a century.
Sonoma’s Sensational 2021's
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"Two thousand twenty-one is the best Sonoma vintage since 2018. While that may not be saying all that much in terms of the time elapsed, the 2021s are both very high in quality and consistent across the board. It’s a vintage full of stunning, compelling wines."
DuMOL - Shining Star of Sonoma County
Dr. Owen Bargreen
Today we present to you one of the shining stars of Sonoma County. A world-class producer of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Cabernet in California, DuMOL began back in 1996 and strangely initially was a hobby for three friends. Since 1999 Andy Smith been at the helm as winemaker. Originally from Scotland, Andy has previously worked at Dry River, Littorai, Havens, Franus, to Matua and Mt Pleasant wineries. Andy went on to graduate in viticulture and enology from Lincoln University in Christchurch, NZ and later became assistant winemaker for Paul Hobbs.
Putting Down Roots, DuMOL’s New Releases
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent
"DuMOL’s Andy Smith took some time putting down roots. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, he studied winemaking at Lincoln University in New Zealand. He worked at Dry River in Martinborough before heading to Australia and eventually coming to California to work for top producers such as Littorai and Paul Hobbs. So, when he speaks, his nomadic past makes for an unusual yet infectious accent...DuMOL must be one of the best-priced producers in the world right now for spectacular Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. The style here perfectly hits that sweet-spot target of generous fruit with captivating finesse. I can’t recommend this collection of 2021s highly enough."
A Scottish winemaker ponders Napa prices
Financial Times
“DuMOL is famous for its Sonoma Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which are so admired that their prices have risen steadily. The only reason Smith makes a small amount — 200 cases — of quite delicious Cabernet from each of three carefully selected vineyards, two of them in Napa Valley, is because he used to make some Cabernet for Larkmead winery from grapes grown on the Napa Valley floor’s alluvial soils and wanted to try his hand at some other terroirs. He calls it “a little project for me to keep my hand in”…It has taken DuMOL 18 years to transition to a domaine, where a producer who owns most of the vines also supplies its raw material. Smith claims that from 2023 all of their Pinot Noir will come from vineyards they either own or lease.”
‘We have to lead the charge’: North Bay winemakers take on climate change
Austin Murphy, The Press Democrat
"Thriving on the upper slopes of a 10-acre vineyard a few miles northwest of Sebastopol are row upon row of hardy Mencia grapevines, from the Spanish region of Galicia. What are they doing there? The short answer: While visiting the Iberian Peninsula some years ago, Andy Smith sampled some wine made from those grapes, and he liked it. Smith, who is winemaker and partner at DuMOL Winery, also noted that Mencia did well “in a maritime climate, with coastal influence, in sandy soils” — similar to conditions in many of his company’s Sonoma County vineyards. “So I thought, let’s do a little experimentation,” he recalls...Smith’s Iberian grape experiment can be seen as part of a broader movement now afoot in the wine industry — a ferment of ideas, if you will — to adapt to, and get ahead of, climate change."
What’s on the menu for Scottie Scheffler’s 2023 Masters Champions Dinner?
Golf News Net
"The Masters Champion Dinner is a tradition that invites all living Masters champions for a special Tuesday dinner to eat before the tournament, tell stories and have an opportunity to hear from the Masters winners past and present. The defending champion pays for the meal, and the attendees can order from off the menu if they wish.
There are two wine options, too: a 2019 DuMOL Chloe Chardonnay and a 2014 Turnbull Cabernet Sauvignon."
The Sonoma Wine Region Rises to Rival Napa
Abby Schultz for Barron's
"[Winemaker Andy Smith's] father was an Olympic swimming coach who “hated wasted talent,” Smith says. “That’s kind of how I feel a little bit about vineyards.”
To illustrate, he offers tastes of 2020 Pinot Noir produced from three Russian River sites only a half a mile apart that are planted with vines of the same genetic material. The sites vary in the depth and type of their soils, resulting in very different wines. Planted in topsoil only 18 inches deep, the Dutton Ranch Jentoft Pinot Noir was intense and bright, with herbal tones—“electric” in Smith’s words—while the aroma of the Bressay Estate Pinot Noir, planted in a vineyard lower down the slope with about three feet of topsoil and more exposure to the morning fog, was more intense with savory, peppery notes."
Green Valley winery DuMOL expands with acquisition of nearby Dr. Galante Estate
Roger Coryell
"DuMOL Winery has recently acquired the Dr. Galante Estate Vineyard in the Green Valley AVA of Sonoma County, expanding its estate holdings to 80 planted acres. The vineyard's cool northern hillside exposure, deep fog intrusion, and classic Goldridge soil provide excellent grape-growing land, making it an ideal addition to DuMOL's existing Green Valley Estate vineyards."
These two major vineyard sales mark a shift in Wine Country real estate
Esther Mobley, San Francisco Chronicle
"Meanwhile, on the other side of the Mayacamas, DuMOL Winery bought the Dr. Galante Vineyard in Sonoma County’s Green Valley region, less than half a mile from DuMOL's original estate. Winemaker Andy Smith, who did not disclose a purchase price, noted that the new parcel brings DuMOL’s total estate holdings to 80 acres, most of which is tucked within a small radius in Green Valley.
This backyard-first approach represents a notable shift from the past, when it was fashionable — especially among Pinot Noir producers like DuMOL — to buy grapes from wildly divergent places, in order to showcase stark differences in terroir."
DuMOL Winery Acquires Dr. Galante Estate Vineyard
DuMOL Winery
DuMOL is proud to announce its recent acquisition of the Dr. Galante Estate Vineyard, raising its Estate holdings to 80 planted acres, and solidifying their quest to produce wines of exceptional quality and unique character, with clear expression of site.
The acquisition of Dr. Galante Vineyard is timed beautifully with the Russian River Valley's 40th anniversary. Since DuMOL's inception over 25 years ago, they've been studying their local neighborhood, the distinctive Green Valley of the Russian River Valley, understood to be one of the best places on earth to grow Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
2021 Sonoma Preview
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"Winemaker/Co-owner Andy Smith and Associate Winemaker Jenna Davis presented a breathtaking range of 2021s. I was blown away by the wines I tasted from DuMOL this year. Two thousand twenty-one is one of the greatest vintages I have tasted here. That is evident from the very first wines in this lineup. Despite drought conditions, the wines retain terrific acidity and tons of nuance. Interestingly, Smith reported that wines extracted easily in 2021. The Chardonnays are incredibly pure and brilliant. It's much the same in the Pinots, a stunning collection of wines that reaches its apogee with the Pinot Noir MacIntyre, one of the greatest California Pinots I have ever tasted. The theme of delineation and vibrancy continues through to the Syrahs and Cabernets. Most of the 2021s were in tank, hence scores are in parentheses. This is a very special set of wines that readers will not want to miss."
Our 100 Most Amazing Sonoma County Wines in 2022
Linda Murphy for Press Democrat
"DuMOL 2020 MacIntyre Estate Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir: 2020 was the 25th vintage for DuMOL, and the Windsor winery was fortunate to have avoided smoke issues in its multiple owned and grape-sourced vineyards. The MacIntyre smells and tastes of super-juicy boysenberry and blackberry, with notes of Luxardo cherry liqueur and pie spice. It’s full-bodied and firm and should benefit from cellaring. There are as many Chardonnays in the range as Pinot Noirs, and all of them are beautiful and in great demand. Plus there are three very distinctive departures: a Sonoma Coast Chenin Blanc, Montecillo Vineyard Moon Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon and an estate Mencia, a Spanish variety cross between Pinot noir and Syrah."
James Suckling Top 100 Wines of the World 2022
James Suckling
"#96: DuMOL Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018 - 98 points, lovely aromas of red cherry, thyme and white chocolate. Medium-bodied with dusty, slightly tight tannins. Crystal-clear red fruit and berries with sweet herbs. Harmonious, bright and driving. Pleasantly plummier at the finish. Fantastic length and fine, powdery tannins at the finish. Deep, dark earth too. Coiled and agile. Delicious now, but this is a wine for long-term aging. Best after 2026."
The Wonder Years
James Molesworth for The Wine Spectator
"The DuMol Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville Meteor Vineyard 2019 (94, $140) is another prime example of the vintage’s beautiful fruit profile, offering lovely flavors of açaí berry, blueberry and violet, with a subtle racy edge thanks to a cool cast iron accent underneath—a hallmark of Coombsville terroir."
California Exports: The Money's in the Middle
Pam Strayer for WineBusiness.com
"At DuMOL in Sonoma, exports make up about 15 percent of sales (about 2,000 cases), said export manager Chloé Lefler. '[We are] enthusiastic about meeting monopole buyers as well as new prospects to expand sales in Germany and Switzerland.'"
Wine Press: 10 questions for DuMOL associate winemaker Jenna Davis
Ken Ross, MassLive
"For more than 20 years, winemaker and co-owner Andy Smith has been at the helm of DuMOL, leading a diverse team of committed employees. In recent years, that dedicated team has included associate winemaker Jenna Davis.
This week, you can learn more about DuMOL’s winemaking philosophy and Davis’ approach to winemaking, along with my tasting notes for three recently released DuMOL wines."
Stunning New Lineup of DuMOL Wines
Owen Bargreen, Washington Wine Blog
"Winemaker Andy Smith has crafted some stunning current releases and I adored the new 2020 DuMOL ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 95) which has incredible tension, elegance and a lengthy finish. Don’t miss out on the mind-numbing 2020 DuMOL ‘DuMOL Estate’ Chardonnay (OB, 96) which is big, burly and shows incredible tension and salinity."
Sonoma County 2020 Report
Audrey Frick for Jeb Dunnuck
"98+ Points: The 2020 Finn Pinot Noir is incredibly complex and unfolds with dark mineral earth, while also maintaining a red-fruited freshness along with notes of wild forest herbs. The palate is long and focused, with candied pomegranate, forest floor, cedar, and baking spice. Drink 2025 and over the next 15 or more years."
Uncorked: Crisp white wines pair with sizzling summer
James Noke, Shaw Local News Network
"'In high school, nobody thinks of making wine,' Davis said. 'It’s not a career you’ve heard anyone doing. I had a family friend that was a Napa winemaker, and thought that sounded awesome. I always worked at plant nurseries, liked chemistry and bio chemistry, and winemaking hit all the marks of what I wanted to do.'"
Sonoma producer sets benchmark as it celebrates 25 years
The Drinks Business
"Sonoma producer DuMOL is setting a benchmark for California’s evolving Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as it celebrates 25 seasons of crafting age-worthy wines from top cool-climate vineyards in the Russian River Valley."
Sonoma County: More From 2019 & 2020
Erin Brooks, The Wine Advocate
"96 Points: The 2020 Pinot Noir Finn has a medium ruby color and a nose of blueberries, cranberries, lavender, oolong tea leaves, aniseed and conifer. Medium-bodied and loaded with pure, concentrated fruits, the palate is framed by grainy tannins and refreshing acidity, and it finishes with ethereal floral perfume. What a beautiful expression!"
World Class Pinot Noir
W. Peter Hoyne, Chicago Wine Press
"Founded in 1996, DuMOL is a latter-day pioneer in the Russian River Valley. Winemaker, Viticulturist and Partner, Andy Smith farmed the region for nearly a decade before joining in 1999. Associate Winemakers Julie Cooper and Jenna Davis along with Cellar Master Jaime Eufracio have over 40 years of combined experience at DuMOL."
Weekly Tasting Report (March 30-April 5)
James Suckling
"Their chardonnays and pinots were at the same quality level as the best grand crus of Burgundy, yet they had a unique character to their respective places, whether a blend or a single-vineyard wine."
A Challenging 2020 Vintage Yields Limited, but Exquisite, Sonoma Pinot Noir
Virginie Boone
"DuMOL, Williams Selyem and other Sonoma producers have or are getting ready to bottle exquisite Pinot Noirs from one of the most difficult vintages of the modern era. There might not be as much 2020 Pinot, but what there is will likely be amazing."
Sonoma County Floats On Mist (Dutch)
Ronald De Groot
"For the previous article, we traveled virtually to California's Central Coast. This time it's over the Golden Gate Bridge heading north to Sonoma County. Here too, the Pacific, the distance to the ocean and the fog are decisive for the character of the wines." (Translated from original Dutch)
The Sonoma Winemakers Devoted to ‘Complete Control and a Sense of Place’
Virginie Boone
“You can make world-class wines from all approaches, but if you want to be taken seriously on a global scale, you need to be an estate winery,” says Smith. “It’s why, in 2003, I knew to take DuMOL further, I needed a piece of land.”
Journey for this female winemaker leads to challenging role in Sonoma County
Paul Vigna
"At DuMOL, we focus on site-specific wines that are expressive of their terroir. We are winegrowers focused on the land, to the fruit, and to the season. The result is a true translation of what the season and the land gives us. Our wines are authentic and classic, made with minimal intervention, with great purity."
Antonio Galloni Reviews Our 2019 Vintage
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"This is a pretty remarkable set of new releases from DuMOL. The Pinots achieved a level of richness that was not easy in a year with a fair amount of rain early in the season, while the Syrahs and Chardonnays are terrific. Winemaker Andy Smith describes 2019 as a year with uneven flowering, especially in Pinot and Syrah, which resulted in small bunches and naturally low yields. Vineyards required just one pass to adjust crop levels, as opposed to three in 2018. On paper 2019 is a vintage with low acids for the Chardonnays vis-à-vis 2018 and lower tannins for the Pinots as well. In my view, though, the biggest driver of style at DuMOL is an emphasis on freshness and energy that defines the wines today as compared to a decade ago, when the wines were much more opulent and oaky. Another key development has been DuMOL’s transformation into an estate winery. In the early days all of the fruit here was purchased. Today, nearly all the Pinot and Syrah are estate, as is more than half of the Chardonnay."
Collectable California: the wines you need to know
Giles Cooper, Club Oenologique
"Viticulturist and winemaker Andy Smith, now with 20 years’ experience at DuMOL, is committed to the vision of site expression. It therefore takes time, working with each individual vineyard, to discover its defining characteristics. And it can take even longer to make sure the right winemaking techniques are being employed in order to show sensitivity and highlight the vineyard characters in the wine."
Elite California Pinot Noir Vineyards
Rusty Gaffney
"Dutton Ranch Jentoft Vineyard: The winemaker and co-owner of DuMOL, Andy Smith, says, “It’s a brilliant site.” DuMOL’s first bottling as a vineyard-designate Pinot Noir was the 2017 vintage. The hallmarks of this vineyard are deep roots, thick fog and a prolonged and steady growing season. 2017 Jentoft Vineyard Ryan Pinot Noir: 94 Points 2018 Jentoft Vineyard Ryan Pinot Noir: 97 Points"
Sonoma: Looking at the 2019s
Jeb Dunnuck
"Starting with some of the classic, benchmark Sonoma estates, readers should look to DuMOL, Kistler, Kosta Brown, Paul Hobbs, Ramey, Rochioli, and Williams Selyem, to name just a few. DuMOL, under the guidance of Andy Smith, continues to make brilliant, classic wines that certainly have an Old World slant in a fresher, more structured style, yet these wines never lack for fruit."
Wine Spectator Insider Hot Wines
Kim Marcus, Wine Spectator
"2019 DuMOL Highland Divide Pinot Noir, 95 Points: Lithe and powerful, with concentrated plum pastry and cherry tart flavors that are well-knit. Minerally midpalate, with a fine-grained finish that is filled with rich savoriness and lush spiciness. Drink now through 2026. From California. —K.M."
Antonio Galloni Reviews our 2018 Vintage
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"My tastings at DuMOL are usually pretty epic, as I sample two vintages of pretty much the entire range. The pandemic made a visit this year impossible, so this report focuses on the bottled 2018s. The wines are brilliant across the board, just as they were from barrel. Winemaker Andy Smith describes 2018 as a year with moderate temperatures, especially at harvest time, which allowed for picking tiny sections of vineyards in small, separate passes. From top to bottom, this is an impressive lineup."
California’s Wine Industry: On The Road To Recovery
Matthew Luczy, Decanter
"Other northern California wineries found themselves in more fortunate situations. Some are hedging their bets against minor smoke damage, others have found no evidence of it. DuMOL’s Smith explains...‘I had picked two vineyards before the fires, and the rest before the smoke descended. I made 90% of what I planned to make. At this stage, I see no smoke taint. I don’t want to jump the gun, but what I have in barrel could be some of the most exciting wines I’ve ever made.’"
Napa Valley's Thrilling 2018 Vintage
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"These three 2018 Cabernets from DuMOL are superb. The wines are deep, polished and so expressive of place...readers will want to check out these sublime Cabernets from winemaker Andy Smith and his team."
Winter Whites
Jancis Robinson
"Producers whose Chardonnays manage to combine complexity and density with heft, and whose wines can also be found outside the US, include DuMOL, Kistler, Kongsgaard, Mount Eden, Pahlmeyer, Ramey and Ridge Vineyards."
Top 100 Wines of 2020
Jeb Dunnuck
"The 2018 Pinot Noir Finn...is the finest Pinot Noir I've tasted from DuMOL."
USA, California: Sonoma County 2018 Vintage
Erin Brooks, The Wine Advocate
“Some producers made potential ‘career’ wines in 2018, and the lineup of wines from … Dumol [is] the best I have ever tasted.”
Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018
Jeb Dunnuck
"This was easily the finest set of releases I have tasted from winemaker Andy Smith."
Hooray for Chardonnay: A Global Guide to the World's Best Bottles
Wine Enthusiast
While still wildly popular, Chardonnay in Napa and Sonoma trends more specialized and site-specific. Grape growers and winemakers now give it the same thought and scrupulous attention once reserved for Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir...Such effort shows in some of our favorite selections, which come from relatively cool sites and small producers.
Seeing 20/20 – Sonoma & Anderson Valley Preview
Antonio Galloni
Super-impressed...Andy Smith continues to grow the range thoughtfully. The Chardonnays and Pinots remain the strong suits, mostly because they form the core of the range and have really been fine tuned over time....The wines are rich, deep and full of character....Both the 2017s and 2018s are vivid and super-expressive.
DuMOL and the Great Scot
Tim Fish
Other Sonoma County estates may produce a broad range of wines, but DuMOL is among the few that have mastered Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Sonoma: 2017 Vintage
Erin Brooks, The Wine Advocate
2017 was a great vintage for this estate, and Smith says, “2017 is one of my favorite vintages for Chardonnay. We had lots of tiny berries with thick skins, which plays right into our style.”
Visiting Sonoma
Rose Murray Brown
One of my missions on my recent California trip was to find decent Chardonnay and Pinot Noir which could compete with Burgundy.
15 Delicious Chardonnays to Drink Now
Food & Wine Magazine
The top wine in a blind tasting of 17 Sonoma Chardonnays I participated in recently in California, DuMOL's Wester Reach is savory and complex, its firm acidity highlighting its exotic citrus (think yuzu), tree fruit (white peach), and spice flavors.
The 2017s From Sonoma
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Flax Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir is a complete, complex, brilliant Russian River Valley Pinot Noir that’s going to have two decades of longevity.
Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond
Antonio Galloni
Andy Smith and his team turned out a brilliant set of wines in 2017 ... The bottled 2016s are just as compelling from bottle as they were last year from barrel.
Uncorked in Napa Valley...
Chandra Kurt
The DuMOL wines rank as absolute Chardonnay highlights...the energy and force in this dynamic [2016 Hyde Vineyard] Chardonnay are evident at the first sip.
California Eden
Rose Murray Brown MW
What sets Smith apart from his winemaking peers is his vineyard experience and his relentless experimentation to achieve perfection.
Washington Wine Blog
Dr. Owen Bargreen
I am not going out on a limb by saying that this is an extraordinary new lineup by DuMOL. It is hard to find a winery that provides the depth of lineup that DuMOL exudes.
Scores Aren’t Everything & Best of 2018
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate
Producing lots of small lots of wines from a small selection of different grape varieties (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier and Syrah)—the standard of quality and expression of site is phenomenally consistent at DuMOL with too many great new releases to recommend individually. What’s more, the prices for the quality (most wines are $60-$80 per bottle on mailing list release) will blow you away. This is one mailing list you don’t want to miss being on.
Wineries to Watch in 2019
Rose Murray Brown
As viticulturalist and winemaker . . . [Andy Smith's] style has evolved from richer wines to subtler lighter styles. His range is superb, I particularly enjoyed DuMOL Pinot Noir 2009 from his Coffee Lane vineyard.
The Story of California Chardonnay
Elaine Chukan Brown for JancisRobinson.com
By 2003 when the winery began planting their own estate vineyard in the Russian River Valley known as Green Valley, Smith made the decision to establish a vineyard in a manner that would support greater freshness but also more nuance in the wines.
How to be the perfect host(ess)?
Jancis Robinson
My plan had been to serve a California Chardonnay from the cool Sonoma Coast – made, incidentally, by a Scottish winemaker – DuMOL's Isobel Chardonnay 2013.
Where the Wild Things Are
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate
Andy Smith has been the viticulturalist and winemaker at DuMOL for 20 years. His crafting of the Chardonnays and Pinots has edged notably towards a more elegant and refined style over the years.
Brilliance from Sonoma
Jeb Dunnuck
Stylistically, Smith makes a fresh, vibrant style of wine, yet I never find them lacking for depth and or texture....[The] Chardonnays... are made in a reductive, age-worthy style and the clear majority have distinctly Burgundian profiles... [and] the top Pinot Noirs are certainly up with the crème de la crème of the region. ...DuMol also produces a handful of world-class Syrahs, as well as one of the top examples of Viognier coming out of California. Both the 2015s and 2016s reviewed here are terrific wines...
Sonoma's Stellar 2016s
Antonio Galloni
My tasting at DuMOL was one of the highlights of my January trip to Sonoma…2016 and 2015 are fabulous back to back vintages at DuMOL. This range is seriously impressive.
Washington Wine Blog
Dr. Owen Bargreen
The current releases by DuMOL were outstanding across the board. One of the great California Chardonnays that I have tried in the past year...
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland
Andy Smith once swam competitively for Scotland; now he’s making Napa Valley wines drunk by royalty and presidents.