Dunn Vineyards

A Howell Mountain Reference Point

Randy and Lori Dunn purchased 14 acres on Howell Mountain in 1978, including five acres of Cabernet Sauvignon planted at roughly 2,000 feet. The first vintage, 1979 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, amounted to 660 cases and established the estate before Howell Mountain became an American Viticultural Area. Randy Dunn and neighboring growers helped define the AVA in 1983, with its lower boundary set at 1,400 feet above the valley fog line.

Dunn now owns and farms 42 acres between approximately 1,800 and 2,100 feet. The vineyards have predominantly eastern exposures and low-vigor mountain soils, producing small, thick-skinned Cabernet Sauvignon berries with pronounced structure. Named parcels include Alta Tierra, Frank, Eagle Summit, Park Muscatine, Below House, Coyote, Creek, and Lake, each with its own planting and replanting history.

Cabernet Made the Dunn Way

The core portfolio remains unusually focused: Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, both made from 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and aged for 32 months in French oak. The Napa bottling, introduced in 1982, provides a broader valley expression, while the Howell Mountain wine is built around the concentration, tannin, and mineral character of the estate's elevated sites.

The winery's 6,000 square feet of caves were excavated in 1989 and maintain cool, highly humid conditions that reduce water loss during the extended barrel-aging period. The barrel program has evolved from a single cooperage to lots aged separately across multiple coopers, with racking every six months. Ted Kizor took over cellar duties in 2020 and has served as Dunn Vineyards' official winemaker since 2023, working within the style established by the Dunn family.

Regenerative Farming and Family Continuity

Dunn began using organic practices for pest and disease management in 2016 and is now focused on regenerative agriculture and vineyard biodiversity. Alex Dunn leads that transition as resident farmer, while the broader family and long-tenured vineyard team continue to operate the estate. The winery has also supported Napa Land Trust conservation work, reflecting the tension Howell Mountain producers face between vineyard development and preserving surrounding forest habitat.