DuMOL

DuMOL was established in 1996 by Michael Verlander and Kerry Murphy, who originally met at Verlander's restaurant in Walnut Creek. The name of the winery is a portmanteau of the founders' children's names, Duncan and Molly. In 1999, Scottish born Andy Smith joined as winemaker after gaining experience at Paul Hobbs, Littorai, and several estates in New Zealand and Australia. In 2005, Smith became a partner in the business, and in 2015, Kerry Murphy purchased Verlander's interests to become the primary owner alongside Smith. The operation has since transitioned from a négociant model to a producer focused on estate vineyards. Today, the winery is led by Smith as chief winegrower and proprietor alongside winemaker Jenna Davis at their facility in Windsor.

The producer operates approximately 100 acres of organically farmed estate vineyards in the Russian River Valley, with additional fruit sourced from specific parcels in the Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Key estate sites such as Bressay, MacIntyre, and Kearney are located on ridgetop plateaus within the Green Valley sub appellation. These vineyards are characterized by Goldridge sandy loam soils and are farmed using high density planting techniques, with some blocks reaching 3,630 to 4,000 vines per acre. This intensive farming method is intended to produce smaller crop loads and more concentrated fruit flavors. In the cellar, the team employs a light touch approach that includes native yeast fermentations and gravity flow movements in a solar powered production facility.

DuMOL is recognized for site specific Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which are frequently released under vineyard specific labels like Chloe, Finn, and Ryan. These bottlings are often characterized by their structural tension and ability to age. While the core portfolio focuses on these two varieties, the winery also produces Syrah from the Hoppe-Kelly Vineyard and a limited range of Cabernet Sauvignon from cool climate sites in Napa Valley. The Wester Reach and Highland Divide labels serve as multi vineyard blends that represent the broader character of the Russian River Valley. Most of the production is sold through a private allocation list to members, though the wines are also found on the lists of prominent restaurants around the world.