Review: Wines of Adonna, 2026 Releases
Adonna Wines is a new brand helmed by Japanese-American biochemist-turned-winemaker Donna Kato, who crafts California wines with an Asian sensibility. The goal: A focus on the vineyard and crafting an elegant finished product. The wines, for now, are only available to mailing list members, so check Adonna’s website if our coverage of its three 2026 releases sound appealing.
2024 Adonna Chardonnay Russian River Valley – Boldly infused with vanilla and coconut notes, this would come across as a prototypical Sonoma chardonnay if it wasn’t bottled at a mere 13.5% alcohol, which definitely helps with the acidity. Vibrant notes of lemon and some pear give this a higher fruit quotient than you might expect, with lychee emerging on the lengthy, slightly sweetened finish. Despite the suggestion of sugar, the wine is easy-drinking and quite versatile, and it paired wonderfully with grilled Korean-style chicken. A- / $85
2024 Adonna White Pinot Noir, Canfield Vineyard Russian River Valley – A rather rare expression of pinot noir produced sans skins and seeds, this white pinot is quite acidic and a bit vegetal, almost approaching a fino sherry with its gentle oxidation and ephemeral, lingering notes of pastoral greenery. There’s a certain cleansing quality to this wine, akin to the way you feel when drinking cucumber water at the spa. I like it in the moment — but only in the moment. B / $65
2023 Adonna Pinot Noir Russian River Valley – I can’t remember the last pinot noir I tasted that had this level of aggressive spice on it, the wine coming across with an impressively heavy hand that reaches into the breadth of the baking cabinet and backs it up with black cherries and plums. A shaving of pencil lead adds a gentle earthiness, which coaxes the finish into a slightly pruny posture as the spice starts to fade. Pinot rarely needs a lot of air time to reveal its charms, but this one is an exception that truly benefits from some retrospection. B+ / $85
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