Darjean Jones Wines (Winemaker, Vintner, & Owner)

Dawna Darjean Jones is a native of Louisiana and, as is the case for many in the state, is a lover of good food and wine. She attended Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in Baton Rouge, earning a B.S. degree with a major in Plant Sciences in 1997. Darjean subsequently entered the Plant Pathology/Phytopathology program at the University of California, Davis, and received a Ph.D. in 2004. She then spent over eight years working for the U.S. government, first as a Plant Pathologist-Bacteriologist and then as a National Security Analyst.

Her experience as a research scientist in Napa Valley fostered her deep respect and appreciation for vineyards and the wealth of varietals there. This ultimately led to her producing her first vintage in 2010, a Napa Valley Merlot. Darjean Jones Wines was born as a culmination of an enduring affair with wine, fermentation science, and the microbes responsible for the magic of vinification.

Darjean’s goal is to produce wine that reflects the essence of the vintage with a uniqueness that is achieved through artisanal winemaking. Her winery is located in Napa, where she produces Cabernet Franc, Viognier, Merlot, and Chardonnay. However, the research and decision for the production of her wines is done from her home in Magnolia, Texas, where she resides with her young son and daughter.