Dunn Vineyards
Dunn Vineyards is located east of St. Helena in the town of Angwin on Howell Mountain. In 1972 Randy and Lori purchased the original vineyard property. The property size would increase over time, but the first purchase was a total of 14 acres. Only five of those acres at the time were vineyard.
The Winery was established in 1979, with the first harvest of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. In 1981, the first release offered consumers 660 cases of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Howell Mountain vineyards. In 1982, Dunn released a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Several vineyards dot the hills owned by the Dunns. However, the best part is that these vineyards are literally just dots in the forested hills. Dunn Vineyards and Randy and Lori Dunn own over 200 acres, 30 of which are planted. Sixty three of those acres are entrusted to the Napa Valley Land Trust. This insures that regardless of who owns this land in the future it will always stay forested.
Dunn Vineyards produces two labels, Howell Mountain and Napa Valley. Both wines are one hundred percent cabernet sauvignon. Production is small — around 2500 cases of Howell Mountain and about 1500 cases of Napa Valley. The Howell Mountain wines consist of one hundred percent Howell Mountain fruit. The Napa Valley wines include up to 15% Napa Valley floor fruit with the remainder of the fruit coming from Howell Mountain. This floor fruit contributes to the wine’s softer approach, even though the wines usually can be laid down for 15+ years.