When Julianne and Scott Donnini realized their fast-paced legal careers were pulling them apart, they knew something had to change. What they didn’t anticipate was that their new path would lead them to become the founders of Auburn Road Vineyard & Winery, a now-thriving destination in Salem County, New Jersey.
A Leap of Faith
In the early 2000s, Julianne worked as a litigator before transitioning to in-house counsel, while Scott held a demanding role as corporate counsel for the Philadelphia Stock Exchange. The long hours kept them apart. “He was working six and a half, seven days a week,” Julianne recalled. “We weren’t seeing each other.”
Then came September 11, 2001 — a turning point for their family. As the tragic events devastated the financial district, Scott’s workplace lost contact with people they had been speaking to only moments before. The emotional toll spurred Scott to rethink his career and their way of life.
“We realized life is short,” Julianne explained. With that newfound perspective, they left their legal careers behind, gathered a few friends as business partners, and began their journey into winemaking.
From Soil to Sip
Neither Julianne nor Scott had formal winemaking experience, but that didn’t stop them. Julianne took her research skills from her litigation background and immersed herself in understanding the craft. She enrolled in UC Davis’s online winemaking certificate program to learn the science and technique. “It was eye-opening but very West Coast-centric,” she said.
To better understand East Coast winemaking, they turned to Penn State’s seminar on starting a small winery. There, they met Tom Payette, a Virginia-based consultant who became their guide in navigating the complexities of winemaking.
“We started with purchased grapes,” Julianne said. “We made our first batch in 2004 and bottled our first commercial wine in 2005.” They planted their first vines that same year, expanding the vineyard over time to manage 23 acres while still sourcing grapes from other New Jersey growers.
Auburn Road Winery’s Ties to Community
The name Auburn Road stems from a nearby village that felt symbolic to Julianne and Scott. “Auburn is this tiny village down the road, but all these rural roads branch out from it, and we felt like we were this small yet central part of something bigger,” Julianne shared.
Rather than a flashy, exotic name, they chose something simple yet meaningful. “It sounded American, it sounded country, and it connected to our new hometown.”
Breaking Barriers in Winemaking
Julianne’s role as the lead winemaker in a male-dominated industry makes her unique. While she doesn’t focus much on being the only female winemaker in New Jersey’s Winemakers Co-Op, the significance isn’t lost on her. “I don’t think about it often, but when I looked at the table during our showcase event, I realized I was the only woman sitting there,” she said.
Still, Auburn Road Winery has built a diverse team. “We’ve got women working in the field, in the winery, and in operations,” she said. “I think women just naturally feel more comfortable here.”
Words of Wisdom
For women considering a career in winemaking, Julianne’s advice is clear: “Don’t undersell yourself. Be confident and know your opinion matters. If they don’t accept you for who you are, it’s not the right place for you.”
Looking Ahead
Julianne’s proudest achievement is simple yet profound: “We’re still here,” she said. “We’ve weathered opening a business, unpredictable weather, and even a pandemic.”
Now, Auburn Road is focusing on perfecting its sparkling wine, expanding vineyard experimentation, and creating small-batch wines that embrace unexpected outcomes. Julianne hopes this approach will continue pushing Auburn Road’s creativity forward.
“I want to step back a bit, not be the one physically doing everything, and instead focus on discovering new opportunities and joys in winemaking,” she said.
With resilience, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to learning, Julianne and Scott have transformed Auburn Road into a cornerstone of New Jersey’s wine industry — a place where great wine and heartfelt connections flourish.
Auburn Road Vineyard & Winery
117 Sharptown-Auburn Rd, Pilesgrove, NJ
(856) 769-9463
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