Located in the heart of Sonoma Valley outside of the town of Glen Ellen due east from Sonoma Mountain, the original farmhouse was built in the early 1890’s and the adjoining property was used as farmland. Purchased in 1984 by current owner and proprietors, Bud and Diane Toly, the vineyard was planted in 1986 to fulfill a dream of creating world class wines from this unique location. The soil confi
rmations vary from rich alluvial loam to sandy clay. Merlot and Zinfandel grapes are strategically planted to the specific soil types to maximize varietal authenticity and components. Charlie Tolbert, winemaker for the Dunbar Estate wines, sources the grapes from the very best locations throughout the vineyards for his wines. Crafted to showcase the sense of place unique to Dunbar Vineyard, the grapes are hand-picked, sorted and fermented in small lots to maintain the varietal integrity. The techniques incorporated by Charlie are time proven protocols gained from experience spanning his 40 year career. Using a deft hand in the aging process, the style of the wines leans more towards fruit preservation and elegance with restrained power.
