If you live in the Bay Area and haven’t heard of The Donum Estate, consider this your sign to add it to your list immediately.
Nestled in Sonoma, The Donum Estate is home to one of the largest accessible private sculpture collections in the world — over 60 monumental works spread across 200 breathtaking acres. You’ll see pieces from Ai Wei Wei, Yayoi Kusama, Yang Bao, Lynda Benglis, Robert Indiana, Zhang Wang, and more. A third of the pieces were custom commissioned specifically for this land, meaning what you see out there exists absolutely nowhere else on earth.
More Than Just a Winery
The estate was founded in 2011 by Mei and Allan Warburg, a Hong Kong-based couple whose global perspective is woven into every corner of the collection. Artists from 18 countries across 6 continents are represented here, and one of my favorite details is the intentional inclusion of Asian artists throughout the lineup. As someone who loves seeing Asian stories and aesthetics show up in fine art spaces, it genuinely hit different walking through and feeling that representation reflected back at you in such a stunning setting.
Wine, Art, and Endless Pours
What no photo can fully prepare you for is the experience of actually being there. We were guided through the estate by a tour guide who knew the intimate story behind every single piece — and who also happened to have an endless supply of wine to pour along the way. Slightly buzzed, surrounded by sculpture and rolling Sonoma hills, learning how each work was made to belong to this exact land — it’s the kind of afternoon that makes you feel lucky to live close enough to do this on a weekend.
The balance between the art, the wine, and the land feels almost impossible to describe. It just works. Beautifully.
Plan Your Visit
Reservations are required, so this isn’t a spontaneous stop — but that’s almost part of the charm. It feels special because it is special. Head to The Donum Estate’s website to book your visit, and trust me, clear your afternoon. You’re going to want to linger.
