Napa Valley, California, October 17, 2023 — Dunn Vineyards is delighted to announce the appointment of Lily Mirabelle Freedman as the winery’s General Manager. Freedman brings a decade of expertise in the global fine wine market to this newly created role and will oversee Dunn Vineyards’ operations, including distribution, marketing, and strategic direction.
Founded in 1978 by Randy and Lori Dunn, Dunn Vineyards has pioneered Napa Valley’s Howell Mountain appellation and mountain viticulture since its inception. One of the iconic producers of classically styled Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Dunn Vineyards is renowned for its two wines defined by structure, purity, and restraint. From the 42 acres that surround the winery and a small quantity of purchased fruit, Dunn crafts their signature Howell Mountain Cabernet and the Napa Valley bottling. Following the transition of primary winemaking responsibilities from Randy to Mike Dunn in 2002, the wines have maintained their noteworthy longevity and power while achieving earlier approachability.
“We are poised for a renaissance and could not imagine a more astute leader than Lily to steer Dunn Vineyards into our next chapter,” remarked Mike Dunn. “Lily’s holistic, contemporary understanding of the luxury wine market, unwavering commitment to excellence, and diplomatic attitude are welcome assets to our small team. She is candid about the challenges we face today and that honesty is essential to navigating the next decades at Dunn. After forty-five years of crafting singular wines on Howell Mountain, adding such a multifaceted talent to what has truly been a home-grown operation is a necessity to ensure a lasting and sustainable future.”
Prior to joining Dunn Vineyards, Lily Mirabelle Freedman oversaw marketing efforts at Colgin Cellars, directing private client sales, managing global pricing, and spearheading a variety of operations, technology, and hospitality initiatives. Before Colgin, she spent over six years at the international wine auction leader, Acker Wines, departing in 2021 as Director of Special Projects. There, she defined the company’s data analytics program and focused on the experience and understanding of the world’s rarest wines. Freedman is a graduate of the University of Chicago and a native New Yorker with lifelong connections to the New York City restaurant business.
“Dunn Vineyards has been, for me and many others, a benchmark producer for American wines and Cabernet Sauvignon of the highest quality,” Freedman said. “It is with great reverence for the history and traditions of the Dunn family that I take on this role. Their uncompromising vision to produce distinctive wines that convey the place where they are grown has not faltered in nearly half a century, and their efforts to protect that land via the Napa Land Trust are remarkable. I am honored to join their accomplished team, capitalizing on the immense potential of these wines and the winery’s rich story above the fog on Howell Mountain.”
About Dunn Vineyards
Dunn Vineyards was founded in 1978 with a mission to craft red wines that distinctly express the Howell Mountain appellation. Conservation of Napa Valley’s land and ensuring its future underlines decisive work in the vineyard and cellar. Dunn Vineyards strives to impart an understanding of one of Napa Valley’s unique sites through the structure, purity, and longevity of its wines.
