Timber, CGO of Dunn Vineyards (Canine Guard of Operations)
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Dogs and wine go together. They share a bond that captures and defines the spirit and the culture of wineries and the families that own them. Napa Valley epitomizes the canine and vino blend. Pull into any crushed pea-gravel driveway where welcomed visitors have tasting room appointments and 2 things will surface: first, the penetrating smell of grapes in the air and next, wagging tails heading out to meet and greet.
There are close to 400 brick and mortar wineries in the Napa Valley region; only a handful of those lack canine presence. If you are a cat lover, don't worry; those few without K-9s tend be of feline persuasion.
Randy Dunn and Timber - Dunn Vineyards
Area: Howell Mountain
Celebrated for: Heirloom Cabernets
Distinguished in the Wine Industry for: Philosophy on how to make wine
Wine characteristics: Made to age and with alcohol content that is moderate (staying below 14%)
Timber's Official Title: Canine Guard of Operations
Timber's favorite duty: Riding in the truck with Randy
Number of cases being produced for 2007: 4000
Photo credit of Randy Dunn and Timber: ©Loralee Dunn
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Winery dogs have their own set of skills and responsibilities. On site they're often known as gopher interrogators, mealybug detectors and wood rat wardens trained to sound the alarm and defend against unwanted intrusion. They also have a talent for showcasing their affectionate and well-mannered nature that has them tagged as mascots and wine tasting canine sommeliers. Increasingly they are earning themselves a place of distinction on wine labels.
Canine Guard of Operations
Randy Dunn & Timber
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WOOF Patrol searched for a particular wine dog with a special story to share with our readers. We found Timber. Timber is 10 or 11 years old, perhaps a Husky/Shepherd mix, and appears to be black though when shaved down is mostly beige-colored. While there's some confusion about his age, breed and color, there's no question regarding his loyalty, intelligence and ownership. Legendary vintner Randy Dunn loves Timber and is very much his master.
You won't find Timber on the Dunn label. He prefers his privacy, though it should be revealed he represents and stands for much of what Dunn Vineyards is respected for: integrity, passion and an understated charisma. Dunn's hand crafted and distinguished wines stand shoulder to shoulder with the world's best vintages. Their heirloom cabernets are celebrated and referred to by critics as "powerful", "complex" and "concentrated".
Timber is also powerful, complex and concentrated. He keeps a vigilant and protective eye on Randy, his family and the wine caves. Nothing gets past this pooch without the discerning detail he pays to what he believes Dunn expects as well as desires and needs of him. But, Randy expects nothing. This winemaker lives his life with an unspoken motto that looks at nature with a sense of respect and great appreciation, not wanting to alter it but rather to embrace it. His philosophy is not based on the next press release. He isn't about public show. Instead Dunn enjoys a private life on top of Howell Mountain with his family. And Timber is family.
Dunn is all about the culture, not the pretension, when it comes to his wines. He established his reputation at the Caymus Winery from 1975 to 1985.
"... his Cabernet Sauvignons became the high water mark for the industry. Caymus Special Selection, in fact earned the distinction of California's most expensive wine and is on the most critical reviewers' list of top ten Napa wines." ... Long Shadows Vintners
Patrick Cappiello, sommelier at Veritas in New York City, told WOOF Patrol that if we were planning to go to Napa Valley, "Dunn is a must-visit," adding, "But you won't get in." We were willing to take that chance. It's our belief that behind every good winemaker is a dog, a dog with a tale.
Timber's Tale
Kristina is the youngest of Dunn's children. She fits the stereotype of the baby of the family in the best of ways. There's a twinkle in her eye, an ever-present smile and her conversational voice often slips into a loveable giggle that never pauses. She shows her weakness, however, around holidays when she is prone to bring home puppies and other critters.
Kristina Dunn: It was around Thanksgiving 1996 and my high school boyfriend's mother had a litter of puppies needing a home. I kept looking at the dogs, they were so cute and I brought one home. My dad said, "He's cute but we're not keeping him." We did try to find him a home, first with my soccer coach but he returned him the next day. Then we tried my dad's tennis partner but he was into cats not dogs. At the time we had 4 ranch dogs.
WOOF Patrol: What are ranch dogs?
K.D.: Outdoor dogs.
Kristina Dunn inside the cave
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W.P.: They never go inside?
K.D.: Not really. Timber was well on his way to becoming another one of our ranch dogs until his accident.
W.P.: What happened?
Randy Dunn: Timber was in the back of the truck and I had a bundle of grape stakes that allowed him to get up a bit higher than usual. We were coming back from the vineyard, around the last corner into the winery area, and I looked back at him, to see him tumbling out of the truck. I slammed on the brakes and got out, to find that I was on him. I got back in and moved the truck forward, and got out again. It was not good. All but one leg was damaged. His back right was hanging by skin. I was alone and had to cover his head with an old Levi jacket so he would not bite me when I picked him up.
K.D: Timber was in bad shape but in excellent spirits.
Kristina shared with us that her Dad spent countless hours with Timber during his recuperation. Early on the dog was barely able to stand up. And for weeks he was placed inside a playpen to keep his movements to a bare minimum. The Dunn family was dedicated to doing anything and everything for the 'cute-but-we're-not-keeping-him' pooch.
K.D.: It was my dog and Dad was going to do what was needed for him. Then as Timber got stronger, their relationship developed into something very special. Timber recognized the care and love that he was receiving from my father. They bonded. Between them it often appears as though they can read one another's minds. My dog became Dad's dog.
W.P.: Is Timber a ranch dog?
K.D.: Sure, he's a ranch dog - an indoor ranch dog that accompanies Dad on his private plane to Canada and to our vacation home in Baja, Mexico. The two of them even kayak together. When I was little I used to see another family fly their dog down to Baja and every time I'd say to Dad, 'Can we take one of the dogs?' He'd say, "There will never be a dog on our plane."
Photographing Randy and Timber proves a bit challenging since they prefer to lock eyes with each other instead of the camera. Both enjoy their privacy but have come to understand that others find them captivating. Kristina, the Pied Piper of animals as well as people, works her magic that allows us one or two shots. What becomes clear is that though the photographer's image of Randy and Timber may not be picture perfect, what is perfect is their relationship with one another.
Timber gets around pretty well for a dog that had one severed and two mangled legs. He may not always feel sure footed, but he feels something much more important: the love and care of owner Randy.
K.D.: I'm lucky that the viticulturist and enologist that I look up to and have as a role model is my Dad.
Kristina Dunn Bio:
June 2005 - Graduated Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with BS in Wine & Viticulture.
Aspirations: Continuing Dunn Vineyard legacy with Michael, her older brother and acquiring more dogs, cats, horses …
Also from Dunn: hot peppers (Special thanks to Bistro Don Giovanni in Yountville for cooking to perfection our private reserve of Dunn's 2007 Hot Peppers!!!)
What Timber can teach us?
A positive attitude and a lot of love and care will overcome any adversity that confronts us.
Heard It From The Grapevine
2007 has been a very dry, cool year. In August the young grapes were already transitioning into fashion forward shades of hand-crafted gold or soft indigo. This phase is called veraison, nature's very own chromatic tango played out under the watchful and paternal eyes of Napan vintners. If you are a wine aficionado you already have your order in and your cellar prepared to receive cases that will be both rewarding and drinkable. This will be a good year!
Other Greeters & Guardians of the Napa Valley
Kimberly, Trent & CJ Jackson of Jax Vineyards
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CJ's official title and duties: Vice Petsident of Barketing & ring bearer for Kimberly's September 2007 nuptials.
Jax Vineyard is celebrated for: Killer Cabs! "It has an elegance of the red fruit spectrum that I don't often see from younger grapevines." … Kirk Venge, Winemaker
Jax Vineyard Timeline:
- 1995 - David and Jane Jackson retire to a small Northern Calistoga vineyard. David's green thumb is provided an outlet. Important to note they have two children: Trent and Kimberly.
Jeremy Piven & Perry Reeves from HBO's Entourage
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- 1996 - Having achieved success in Silicon Valley Trent turns his attention away from Wi-Fi and toward the vine. He hand picks the second harvest and attempts to make wine himself in his garage on Scott Street in San Francisco. Trent hires Kirk Venge, renowned winemaker.
- 2002 - While pursuing her telecom career, Kimberly an MBA graduate of Vanderbilt (where she co-founded a campus wine club), begins to focus on the boutique wine business, shaking it up in the process.
- 2003 - The Jax Vineyard label is born. Vintage sells out within weeks. Top Jax-wine-consuming states: California, New York, Arizona and Las Vegas
- 2007 - Kimberly ties the knot and Jax Vineyards continues to dazzle and reward wine drinkers.
Byline by CJ Jackson, Vice Petsident of Marketing
Website: www.jaxvineyards.com
Entourage fans are likely familiar with Jax Vineyards since the wine was "placed" in an episode of HBO's hit show. While Kimberly was making a routine sales call to the Dakota restaurant in Los Angeles she was asked to wait because Entourage was filming a scene inside. 45 minutes later they let her in and she placed her wines on the bar. Gary Goldman, Entourage's first assistant director, was setting up for his next shot: a dining scene. He looked over and said to Kimberly, "Hey, I love your wines! Can we put them in this scene?" Jackson was even cast in a walk-on role but didn't make the final cut. But the wine did and the rest is Hollywood history.
Jax Vineyard Philosophy: Our wines are 80% complete when we harvest the season's first grape.
Joe (foreground) & Honey (background)
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Joe and Honey 'meet & greet' at McKenzie-Mueller Vineyards and Winery
Joe's official title and duties: Property Manager and mentor of the new puppy.
Honey's official title and duties: CJWM which stands for Canine Jr. Wine Mascot in training.
McKenzie-Mueller Vineyards and Winery celebrated for: Wine with an authentic expression of the vineyard and the fruit. Owners Bob and Karen run every part of the McKenzie-Mueller operation by hand from the planting and pruning, to the harvesting and selecting.
Website: www.mckenziemueller.com
Pomo, WOOF Patrol's mascot went on a job hunt while in Napa Valley. He researched and came up with a winery of great distinction and fabulous wine. Pomo also made sure to secure a private and sought after vineyard with panoramic views, comfortable leather couches in their tasting room and no canine presence: Forman Vineyard
4 useful wine terms:
Dakota - Kristina Dunn's pooch
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- Enology: the study of vine.
- Viticulture: the cultivation of grapes.
- Oenophile: wine aficionado or connoisseur.
- Dry Farming: vines receive water from rain, fog or other natural forms of condensation
but not irrigation.
Photo credits: Jax Vineyard - Photography graciously provided by Eric Jones - www.ohmbox.com and Daniel Sofer - www.hermosawave.net.
All other photo credits unless noted: Copyright © 2007 WOOF Patrol. All rights reserved.
"A well made wine keeps evolving for years and years." ... Randy Dunn
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