Dunham Cellars: The Legacy Behind the Label
Most businesses begin with a dream—but take flight with a leap of faith. For the Dunham family of Walla Walla’s beloved Dunham Cellars, the journey to winemaking began in 1995, when there were fewer than 10 wineries in the area and the Washington wine industry was still new. As they celebrate their 30th anniversary, the pioneering spirit that drove their success remains strong.
“We really didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into, but I feel we made the right decision,” said Founder and Managing Partner Joanne Dunham. In 1995, Dunham and her late husband, Mike, left 20-year careers in the insurance industry to help launch the winery, inspired by her stepson Eric Dunham’s vision and talent as an up-and-coming winemaker.
Today, the Walla Walla Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) that’s home to around 140 wineries and has become a prime wine and culinary destination. Washington State is now the second largest wine producing state in the country (California holds the top spot). Dunham Cellars is one of Banner’s longest-standing clients, with a banking relationship that goes back to 1997 and helped shape how Banner supports regional wineries.
“It was early clients like Dunham that provided valuable feedback in crafting not just a winery lending policy but an entire philosophy around serving the wine industry,” said Adam Keatts, SVP and Blue Mountain CBC Manager.
“In the beginning, just getting fruit was a challenge—there weren’t many vineyards,” said Joanne. Today, Dunham has two of its own estate vineyards and produces about 23,000 cases of wine each year, a mix of reds and whites from grapes that are picked and sorted by hand.
While they’ve grown over the years, moving their winery into a World War II-era hangar at the Walla Walla Airport District in 1999, adding a tasting room and wine club, barrel storage buildings and a bottling line, their approach to marketing is still deeply authentic and personal.
Their most well-known wine, Three Legged Red, was named after Eric’s rescue dog, Port. The Shirley Mays Chardonnay was named for his grandmother Shirley. “In the early days, it was just me, Mike and Eric making these decisions,” said Joanne. “Our tasting table was a little round barrel.”
While Mike Dunham passed away in 2013 and Eric Dunham passed away the next year, the winery’s philosophy is still driven by a passion for making delicious, approachable wines that age well, now at the direction of winemaker Rob Campisi, who has been with Dunham since the early days.
The team was rounded out in 2004, when David and Cheryll Blair brought their extensive business and agricultural processing experience on board as managing partners.
Along the way, Joanne says Banner has been a steadfast partner in a highly competitive industry. “The Banner team listens and understands our business—we’ve grown together. They’ve been a great support throughout our journey.”
As the winery celebrates 30 years, they’re unveiling a refreshed look for their labels—while savoring a labor of love that spans decades. “Seeing what we planted years ago grow into maturity is deeply satisfying,” said Joanne. “When you create something, it becomes a part of you.”
