Scott, BA ’90, Esq., and Julianne Marth Donnini, BA ’88, Esq.
Auburn Road VineyardsPilesgrove, New Jersey
Taste of Home
Husband and wife pair Scott Donnini, BA ’90, and Julianne Marth Donnini, BA ’88, Esq., are on a mission to convince even the most critical of connoisseurs that great wine can be made in their home state of New Jersey. After leaving the legal field two decades ago, the pair opened Auburn Road Vineyards, a Pilesgrove, New Jersey, staple complete with an outdoor wine bar, Enoteca, and dozens of options for tasting.
The Donninis credit their Saint Joseph’s education with giving them the tools to embrace the many challenges of owning a business.
“Wine making is art, of course, but it is also agriculture, manufacturing, hospitality, distribution, logistics, sales and marketing,” Scott says.
At Auburn Road’s European-style wine bar, Enoteca, guests can enjoy menu items al fresco, like the burrata salad, which features creamy burrata cheese, cherry tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and a balsamic glaze, served on a bed of arugula.
The Donninis make 6,000 cases of wine per year from their 23 acres of wine grapes.
Scott and Julianne recently presented their wine to the U.S. Ambassador to Italy.
Inspiration for going into the food biz?
Julianne: We never got to see each other in our day jobs as lawyers, and we were starting a family and wanted to be around them as much as possible. The kids grew up around us with family and friends helping watch them when they were young (we live on the property where the vineyard and winery are) and Scott and I got to work together everyday.
What has been your biggest challenge as a business owner?
Scott: Convincing the wine consumer that serious and credible wine can be grown and made in New Jersey and specifically here at Auburn Road.
Most memorable restaurateur moment/experience:
Scott: Presenting our wine to the U.S. Ambassador to Italy and his guests at his residence in Rome to launch our export of our wine to Italy.
Julianne: On the day that we opened to the public after three years of work, Scott hung a flag saying OPEN at the end of our entrance and someone pulled in immediately! We sold our first bottles of wine that day.
How has your SJU education impacted you as an entrepreneur?
Scott: Our liberal arts education from St. Joe's has been absolutely essential to our success. Our business is incredibly multifaceted and the breadth of a Jesuit education provided us with a large and varied collection of tools that we used to build it, grow it and adapt it as needed. Wine making is art, of course, but it is also agriculture, manufacturing, hospitality, distribution, logistics, sales and marketing.
Since we have had broad exposure to many disciplines as part of our St. Joe's education, we were much less likely to be intimidated by new challenges because we could always recognize a place to get comfortable enough, gain a foothold and start to learn more.
Auburn Road Vineyards sits on 16 acres of land.
Scott Donnini, BA ’90, Esq., and Julianne Marth Donnini, BA ’88, Esq., outside at their vineyard.
Auburn Road regularly offers over three dozen wine varieties.
Auburn Road offers wine tastings and tours of the vineyard.
Favorite guest you’ve served?
Julianne: All the guests for whom coming to our place over the last 20 years has become a family tradition — a place to celebrate the big events in their lives. We have heard countless stories like that from guests and that is the best thing ever — that they consider our place to be “their place.”
Unknown or fun fact about your restaurant?
Scott: We left the city, bought 16 acres of open field and started the vineyard and winery without ever having farmed a day in our lives and without ever having made a drinkable bottle of wine. Now, 20 years later, we farm 23 acres of wine grapes and make 6,000 cases of wine a year.
SJU professor or class that had the most impact on your career trajectory?
Julianne: Dr. Owen Gilman. I took every class he taught and even though I am not currently a creative writer, his classroom and assignments gave me the confidence to pursue creative endeavors. My strongest memories come from his Vietnam War novel class. Dr. Gilman helped us break from who we were and immerse ourselves into another place and time. His classwork helped me to become a good lawyer, to immerse myself in my clients' situation, but it also helped me transition to my next career as a winemaker and grape grower.
If you could make an SJU-themed meal or dish, what would you serve?
Scott: A Larry's Cheesesteak hoagie wood-fired pizza. A mozzarella and asiago cheese pie with lean slices of steak cooked in our wood-fire oven and finished with extra virgin olive oil, arugula, fresh jersey tomato, fried onions and mayo. Paired with our beautiful Dry Rose.
Please sip responsibly while exploring the delicious flavors of the Saint Joseph’s food tour!
Follow Auburn Road Vineyards on Social:
