Dunham Cellars

Eric Dunham discovered his passion for wine in his late teens and early 20s; he began his formal winemaking training with a 6-month internship at Hogue Cellars in Prosser (one of the largest Yakima Valley volume producers, founded 1982). After Hogue, Eric was hired as Assistant Winemaker at L'Ecole No. 41 in the Walla Walla Valley under Marty Clubb (the principal L'Ecole winemaker after the Ferguson founding-family transition). With Marty Clubb's blessing and using L'Ecole facility access, Eric began making small Dunham lots in 1995 alongside his L'Ecole work; the first Dunham bottling was the 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon I (the Roman numeral I designation began Dunham's distinctive vintage-numbered tradition). After the early bottlings received critical acclaim, Eric and his parents Mike and Joanne Dunham established a dedicated Dunham Cellars operation, moving into a converted WWII airplane hangar at the Walla Walla Airport District in the late 1990s. The Clubb mentorship at L'Ecole represents one of the most significant Walla Walla winemaker-to-winemaker apprenticeship lineages.

• Eric Dunham early career: 6-month internship at Hogue Cellars Prosser; Assistant Winemaker at L'Ecole No. 41 under Marty Clubb
• Clubb mentorship: Marty Clubb's blessing for Eric's early Dunham lots at L'Ecole; one of most significant WW winemaker-to-winemaker apprenticeship lineages
• First Dunham bottling: 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon I (Roman numeral I designation begins distinctive vintage-numbered tradition that continues)
• Late 1990s move: converted WWII airplane hangar at Walla Walla Airport District; distinctive aviation imagery establishes Dunham brand identity

The Walla Walla Airport District has become a significant Walla Walla wine commerce hub since the early 2000s, hosting Dunham Cellars plus a growing community of small-to-mid-scale wineries that utilize the airport-area warehouse space. Dunham Cellars' converted WWII airplane hangar (used during WWII training operations at the Walla Walla Airport) provides distinctive winery space with the high ceilings and open-floor character that suit barrel-cellar and fermentation operations. The aviation imagery extends across the Dunham brand: the producer's flagship Bordeaux blend XX (named for the Roman numeral 20) celebrates the 20th vintage; subsequent commemorative bottlings continue the aviation-imagery brand identity. The Walla Walla Airport District as a broader hub has grown to include multiple wineries including Tertulia Cellars, Trio Vintners, and others; the airport-area model represents an alternative Walla Walla winery-real-estate development pattern alongside the Highway 12 vineyard-trail and downtown Walla Walla tasting-room patterns.

• Walla Walla Airport District: significant Walla Walla wine commerce hub since early 2000s; hosts Dunham + growing community of small-to-mid-scale wineries
• Dunham WWII airplane hangar: high ceilings + open-floor character suit barrel-cellar and fermentation operations; aviation imagery anchors brand
• Aviation imagery extends across brand: flagship Bordeaux blend XX (Roman numeral 20, 20th vintage); subsequent commemorative bottlings continue aviation theme
• Airport District as alternative WW winery-real-estate development pattern: Tertulia Cellars + Trio Vintners + others; alongside Highway 12 vineyard-trail + downtown WW tasting-room patterns

Dunham Cellars' lineup is notably broader than the founding-three Walla Walla producers' more focused Bordeaux emphasis. The Cabernet Sauvignon Roman numeral series (Vintage I, II, III, etc., each individual vintage designated with successive Roman numerals) anchors the producer's flagship reference; the series has produced over two decades of vintages with consistent stylistic register. Beyond the flagship Cabernet, Dunham produces significant Syrah (anchored by selected Walla Walla and broader Columbia Valley sources), Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay (one of WW's most-cited Chardonnays), Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling. The variety breadth supports broader market positioning and tasting-room appeal at the Walla Walla Airport District location. The Trutina Bordeaux blend (a multi-vintage blend named for the Latin word for 'balance') and other named bottlings round out the broader lineup. Production scale is moderate, with both mailing-list and broader wholesale distribution.

• Roman numeral Cabernet Sauvignon series (I, II, III, etc.): flagship reference; each vintage successive Roman numeral; consistent stylistic register over two decades
• Variety breadth beyond Cabernet: Syrah, Merlot, Cab Franc, Chardonnay (one of WW's most-cited), Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling
• Named bottlings: Trutina Bordeaux blend (Latin 'balance'), XX commemorative bottlings, additional brand-name expressions
• Production: moderate scale; mailing-list + broader wholesale distribution; broader market positioning + tasting-room appeal at WW Airport District

Founding winemaker Eric Dunham (1970-2014) established the Dunham Cellars house style and remains central to the winery's identity. The winery continues today, family- and partner-owned, under co-founder Joanne Dunham together with the Blair family: David and Cheryll Blair are co-owners, and their son John Blair joined in 2011, became general manager in 2013, and is now president and a co-owner running day-to-day operations alongside Joanne Dunham. Across its history the winery emphasizes only three head winemakers: founder Eric Dunham, then Daniel Wampfler (from 2008), and Robert Campisi, who joined in 2008, became assistant winemaker in 2012, and was promoted to head winemaker in 2018. The established stylistic register has been preserved through subsequent vintages. The Dunham Cellars 30th anniversary in 2025 was marked with commemorative releases and broader Walla Walla community recognition of the producer's enduring contributions.

• Founding winemaker Eric Dunham (1970-2014): central to Dunham Cellars' identity and house style; trained and made early lots at L'Ecole No. 41 under Marty Clubb
• Winery continues family- and partner-owned under co-founder Joanne Dunham with the Blair family (David and Cheryll Blair, co-owners; son John Blair, general manager/president and co-owner); established stylistic register preserved
• Winemaker succession: founder Eric Dunham, then Daniel Wampfler (from 2008), then Robert Campisi (joined 2008, assistant winemaker 2012, head winemaker since 2018)
• 30th anniversary 2025: commemorative releases + broader Walla Walla community recognition of producer's enduring contributions