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Eric, Mike and Joanne from Dunham Cellars
Using grapes from some of the finest vineyards in the Walla Walla, Yakima and Columbia Valleys, Dunham Cellars has established an award-winning reputation for their wines. When Eric's first vintage, a 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon was released, it was deemed one of the finest wines made in Washington by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Subsequent vintages and varietals have also earned high marks with both wine writers and consumers. Eric shows his artistic side by creating original artworks for all of Dunham Cellars vineyard designated and special bottlings.
The winery makes its home in a rustic, remodeled World War II era airplane hangar in Walla Walla, and the future looks promising for Dunham Cellars. The family-owned winery continues to increase production and wine varietals, and has planted estate vineyards in prime locations around the Walla Walla Valley Appellation. Dunham wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Trutina (a Bordeaux style blend), Three Legged Red (a red table wine), Four Legged White (a Riesling), and the "Shirley Mays" Chardonnay, which is dedicated to Eric's grandmother. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this wine are donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to help fund the fight against breast cancer.
The only thing that will never change at Dunham Cellars is its winemaking philosophy. “We will continue to produce premium wines through gentle treatment in all phases of the winemaking process.” Eric's goal is “to bring something to the bottle he enjoys and is proud to hang the Dunham name on.”
Eric Dunham, a native to the Walla Walla area, grew up with a passion to make wine. Like in many European countries, wine was always on the dinner table as Eric grew up. After serving four years in the U.S. Navy, and then graduating in 1994 with a focus on Irrigation Technology and Fluid Dynamics, he was faced with the question of what he wanted to do. The answer was simple..."To follow my passion," he said. And with that answer, he began his journey into the world of winemaking. He followed his desire and began a seven-month internship with Hogue Cellars in Prosser, Washington, where he was trained in all phases of winemaking.
Eric was employed by L'Ecole No. 41 winery in Lowden, Washington as the Assistant Winemaker, where he honed his skills under the tutelage of Marty Clubb. Eric's natural talent and passion for winemaking led him, in his spare time, to begin handcrafting small lots of premium Cabernet Sauvignon under the Dunham Cellars name. With an inaugural release in the fall of 1997 of the 1995 Dunham Cabernet Sauvignon I (200 cases), Eric's wine began creating quite a stir. This first release garnered several prestigious awards, including a Gold Medal and a 93 rating at the World Wine Championship. Encouraged by his success, Eric and his family decided to dedicate their full attention to the wines, and in the Spring of 1999, they went out on their own and opened the winery at the Walla Walla Regional Airport in a converted WWII airplane hangar.
Eric's focus and philosophy are the same today as they were when he first started to handcraft his ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah...use the best fruit sources possible and adopt a "minimalist" approach with regards to winemaking technique.
"Through extended maceration (cold soaking), gentle crushing, and even gentler pressing techniques, I believe that we create a wine that is both age-worthy, yet approachable now. Through gentle treatment in all phases of the winemaking process, my goal is to bring something to the bottle that you will enjoy, as well as produce something I am proud to put my family's name on."
Mike Dunham - A Walla Walla native began his journey into the world of business after attending Oregon State University, majoring in Marketing. A five year stint with Standard Oil in San Francisco led him back to Walla Walla, where Mike's natural ability to "play well with others" landed him a job with Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance. A successful career in the insurance business provided the foothold Mike needed to help start Dunham Cellars with Joanne and Eric. Mike officially retired from NML in the Spring of 2001 to concentrate solely on the winery. Mike is involved in sales and marketing nationally.
Joanne Dunham - Mike's wife is also a native of Walla Walla and her family has farmed near the Lowden area for over 2 generations. Joanne has recently taken over the operations of the winery. If you have ever visited the winery, then you are familiar with the fruits of her creative genius. She is the brains behind the winery’s classic décor and landscaping, and also the impressive and magnificent ornamentation assembled together for our unforgettable special events.
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