YEARLY ACTIVITIES

Taking a look at the yearly activities allows our consumers to see what goes on in order to deliver the finished product.  Starting out at the beginning of the year, January brings much rain to the area.  Here on the hill the vines are dormant. In the winery we are racking.  February is spent pre- pruning the vineyards to get rid of excess canes.  During March, workers revisit the vines for a second pruning and or a late prune for frost.  Also in March, consumers may spot the Dunn Family at the MacArthur Beverage Barrel Tasting which is held in Washington D.C. 

May is the time of the year for early morning wake-ups.  During this month we must insure that our frost protection is up and running in order to safely protect our buds.  We protect against frost in two ways, over-head sprinklers and wind machines.  As June rolls around we seem to always see a lot of bottles rolling around too.  Each June family and friends participate in our annual bottling.  Though this event usually only lasts 2 days, the crew is always happy to see the last case sent down the conveyor belt.  June also marks the time of year when auctions are in full force.  The Howell Mountain Wine Auction raises money for the small K-8th Elementary just down the road from the winery.  This school provided the education for all three of the Dunn children, and so much time, planning, and concern goes into the annual Auction held at the end of June. This event provides people with the opportunity to taste some amazing Howell Mountain wines that other wise might not be available. The Dunn family has also been known to travel out to Telluride Colorado for their wine auction. 

July marks the month for two important birthdays: Randy and Mike. When not celebrating, they might be participating in the Center of the Arts wine festival in Sun Valley Idaho; we do not need much of an excuse to go to such a beautiful place and enjoy some wine, and a little white water rafting. Back in Angwin, the temperature is rising along with the sugar levels.  This is also the time of the year where we send out our annual mailer and start waxing those Howell Mountain bottles so that they are ready for shipment during the cooler months. 

August, September and October are the crunch months - or should we say crush months.  Activities consist of getting crush equipment ready, testing grapes, and hoping for good weather.  Once harvest has started everyone pitches in picking, crushing, pressing and pumping over.  Barreling down the wines may start during these months and continue into November. In October, we participate in The Wine Spectator Wine Experience.  With the harvest over, equipment is cleaned and put away till next year. In November and December we begin racking the wines and the cycle starts anew.