Darling Wines is the work of Tom Darling, a former philosophy student who traded books for vineyards but kept the same pursuit of clarity, intention, and meaning. Since 2017, he’s been crafting quietly expressive wines from carefully chosen Sonoma sites, working in a way that feels more like stewardship than production. It’s an approach that’s earned him a devoted following—and even a spot on the list at one of Thomas Keller’s restaurants, a rare honor for such a young, small-scale project.
The 2024 Pinot Gris comes from La Cruz Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap, a site shaped by cool Pacific winds and long, slow ripening. Only six barrels were made. The back label lists the farmers who grew the fruit and the ingredients inside the bottle—simply “Pinot Gris and SO₂”—a gesture of transparency that matches the purity of what’s in the glass.
The wine itself is all about quiet confidence: orchard fruit, quince, and peach at the core, accented by citrus peel and coastal salinity. Lees contact lends mid-palate texture, but the finish remains lifted and mineral, more whisper than shout. It’s Pinot Gris with both precision and presence—graceful enough to contemplate, versatile enough for the table, and as rare as it is honest.
Region: Petaluma Gap AVA, Sonoma County (La Cruz Vineyard)
Grapes: Pinot Gris
Farming: Sustainably farmed, Pacific-influenced site; growers acknowledged on the label
Method: Native fermentation; élevage on fine lees; minimal handling; six barrels produced; transparent ingredient labeling (Pinot Gris + SO₂)
Style: Textural, mineral-tinged, quietly expressive Pinot Gris
Darling Wines is the work of Tom Darling, a former philosophy student who traded books for vineyards but kept the same pursuit of clarity, intention, and meaning. Since 2017, he’s been crafting quietly expressive wines from carefully chosen Sonoma sites, working in a way that feels more like stewardship than production. It’s an approach that’s earned him a devoted following—and even a spot on the list at one of Thomas Keller’s restaurants, a rare honor for such a young, small-scale project.
The 2024 Pinot Gris comes from La Cruz Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap, a site shaped by cool Pacific winds and long, slow ripening. Only six barrels were made. The back label lists the farmers who grew the fruit and the ingredients inside the bottle—simply “Pinot Gris and SO₂”—a gesture of transparency that matches the purity of what’s in the glass.
The wine itself is all about quiet confidence: orchard fruit, quince, and peach at the core, accented by citrus peel and coastal salinity. Lees contact lends mid-palate texture, but the finish remains lifted and mineral, more whisper than shout. It’s Pinot Gris with both precision and presence—graceful enough to contemplate, versatile enough for the table, and as rare as it is honest.
Region: Petaluma Gap AVA, Sonoma County (La Cruz Vineyard)
Grapes: Pinot Gris
Farming: Sustainably farmed, Pacific-influenced site; growers acknowledged on the label
Method: Native fermentation; élevage on fine lees; minimal handling; six barrels produced; transparent ingredient labeling (Pinot Gris + SO₂)
Style: Textural, mineral-tinged, quietly expressive Pinot Gris
