Dunham Cellars

Dunham Cellars is dog friendly — just as friendly as co-owner and winemaker extraordinaire Eric Dunham, but we’ll get to him in a bit. This is border collie heaven, with angelic canines Konnie and Maysy circling underfoot. While Maysy is pictured on the “Four Legged White” label, Eric’s dog Port, now deceased, still graces the label of his delectable “Three Legged Red.” All these dogs share something special: They are rescue dogs and they won the lottery by being taken into this loving home.

Located at the Walla Walla Airport Complex, Dunham Cellars’ tasting room is one of my favorite wine stops along the Walla Walla Airport WineTrail. Named by Sunset magazine in 2009 as one of the top tasting rooms in the West, Dunham Cellars’ provides relaxed comfort inside its oh so nicely decorated Hangar Lounge or, weather permitting, outside at one of many picnic tables.

Eric is often at the winery, tending to the never-ending duties of winemaking, but he still manages to find time to visit with guests, whether they are novice wine drinkers or experienced connoisseurs. Eric is one of the friendliest winemakers in the valley. His roots are in Walla Walla, and in 1999, together with his parents, Mike and Joanne Dunham, he began the winery in this former World War II airplane hangar. His is an inclusive enterprise as well – dozens of folks in the valley involved in winemaking either volunteered as cellar rats or worked as assistant winemakers at Dunham Cellars.

The Dunhams are fortunate in that they need never go searching hither and yon for the best fruit; they own several vineyards that produce renowned grapes. Indeed, theirs must be excellent grapes, because they possess a laundry list of prestigious awards too numerous to list here. In addition to the “Three Legged Red,” you have an opportunity to sample their renowned syrah, cabernet sauvignon, sémillon, “Shirley Mays” chardonnay, a crisp rosé, as well as a Bordeaux blend called “Trutina” (the Latin word for “balance”). By the way, the vivid artwork that graces the single-vineyard-designated wines is the work of Eric himself. In addition, the staff at Dunham Cellars vouch that Eric is also a fabulous cook. Culinary artist, fine-arts painter, celebrated winemaker—the guy is multitalented. Does he ever sleep? I’m dog-tired just thinking about it.

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  Order the book!

  Dunham Cellars was featured in WineTrails of Walla Walla as part of the Walla Walla Airport WineTrail on page 470!

• 

  Order the book!

  Dunham Cellars was featured in WineTrails of Washington as part of the Walla Walla Airport WineTrail on page 470!