Kenny Hill Vineyard

Walla Walla Valley

This sloped, south-facing 70-acre estate vineyard was purchased in the Summer of 2008 as a joint venture between Dunham Cellars and long-time viticulturalists and good friends, Bill and Andy Den Hoed. It is located 5 miles east of Dunham Cellars up the Mill Creek drainage in the Blue Mountain foothills at an elevation of 1450 feet. The precipitation, elevation, slope and naturally occurring breezes at this site provide a rare low incidence of frost and opportunity to grow non-irrigated grapes.

Prior to the purchase of this property, our sister company Appellation Management Group planted Yellow Bird Vineyard, a dryland vineyard on the east side of Kenny Hill. With full control of farming practices from the soil preparation to the varieties and clones selected for planting, we watched for successes and shortfalls at Yellow Bird. After two years of careful observation, the success of Yellow Bird prompted us to purchase the adjacent property now known as Kenny Hill. We continued our dedication to restoring soil life and nutrition, using sustainable practices to ensure a healthy vineyard for generations to come. 

Previously farmed with wheat and legumes, we improved the depleted microbiology of the land by incorporating a complex mix of organic compost and nutrients to enhance the soil's water-retention capability. After careful clone selection, we planted the first half of the vineyard in the Spring of 2010, and as of 2023, the estate is fully planted with 60 acres of the following varieties:

Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Syrah
Cabernet Franc
Malbec
Grenache
Petit Verdot
Chardonnay