Dunham Cellars

A chat with John Blair, President/GM

In 2015, Dunham Cellars celebrated their 20^th anniversary. Seattle DINING! spent some time with Joanne Dunham and talked history, present, and future ( click here to read that story). In February of 2016, we met with John Blair, President/GM, to learn more about his history with the winery and get an update on what's happening with Dunham.

John Blair, Joanne Dunham, spring 2015

In the late 90s, the Dunhams were looking for investors to help grow the business. Their bank put them in touch with a company where David Blair worked. The company decided to invest and did so in 2000. David handled the investment. In 2004, the company decided to divest. Having worked with the winery for four years, David enjoyed the Dunhams in addition to the business and relationships, so he tendered an offer to purchase the company's investment. In 2004 he and wife Cheryll became the Dunhams' partners.

In the meantime, John had graduated from Whitman College and moved to Seattle where he was working in the hospitality industry. In 2008, Mike Dunham was diagnosed with cancer. They started the process of thinking about how the business would continue without him. Luckily, they had several years with Mike to transition. They approached John about getting involved. After five years in his position, he was ready to move up or move on from the company he worked for, so the timing was good. He got his MBA from the University of Washington, returned to Walla Walla, and spent about a year-and-a-half working with Mike. "Besides being a wonderful, warm human being, he was really sharp financially. I learned a lot from him," says John. Mike died in 2013; Eric, his son, died in 2014. John took over as GM, and became President in 2015.

Mike Dunham

For their 20^th anniversary, they created the Founders Blend, a one-time-only blend of their Artist Series wines to honor Mike and Eric. $10 from each bottle is donated to the Walla Walla Community Hospice as a thank you for all the help they received during a dark few years.

Dunham purchases about 20% of their grapes annually, and grows 80% of their own grapes. They have estate vineyards in prime locations around the Walla Walla Valley appellation. In 2008, they purchased (as a joint venture with viticulturists Bill and Andy Den Hoed), 70 acres of sloped, south-facing land. They planted half of it in 2010, and another 15 acres in 2014. The first crop from this planting will be released in the fall of 2016.

Founders Blend design

Dunham wines can be found in grocery stores, wine shops, restaurants and, as always, through their wine club. The Artist Series wines are available only through the wine club.

A question we asked Joanne in 2016, and now John in 2016, is still unanswered. Will you open a tasting room on the west side? It's not that they don't want to answer. "We feel that we've created a wonderful atmosphere in our Walla Walla tasting room that really reflects Dunham," explains John. "We don't want to open elsewhere until we find the perfect location, one that continues our branding and feel. We haven't found it yet." We'll keep waiting (and returning to Walla Walla).

Connie Adams/April 2016

Dunham Cellars
150 E Boeing Ave
Walla Walla, WA 99362
509-529-4685

www.dunhamcellars.com