Napa Valley holds a dear place in the hearts of our team. If you mention Howell Mountain, Celia and Will’s eyes immediately light up. It is therefore a great honor for us to represent Retro Cellars, a project led by the talented couple Mike and Kara Dunn.

Mike’s father founded the legendary Dunn Vineyards on Howell Mountain, while Kara’s father founded Robert Pecota Winery in Calistoga. With deep roots and strong family traditions in Napa Valley winemaking, the couple created Retro Cellars as a retrospective nod to the old world styles of wines and vineyards they love, thoughtfully brought forward for today.

Retro began with a single barrel of Petite Sirah from the Park Muscadine Vineyard on Howell Mountain, originally intended for home consumption. The old vine, high elevation fruit revealed its beauty when guided by an Old World winemaking philosophy. That one barrel sparked the growth of the project, and over the years Retro has evolved to include Syrah and Zinfandel, all crafted with the same commitment to early pick times and gentle extractions.

While the name Retro reflects a reverence for the past, we are equally inspired by the future of this winery. In 2022, Mike and Kara’s son Alex returned to the family vineyards after studying art and completing work in land preservation with the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship and the Redwood Trails Alliance. Upon his return, Alex and Mike began working closely together to focus on restoring aging vineyards and rebuilding soil health. They have since implemented a carbon plan and are actively working to sequester as much CO₂ as possible. Vineyard practices range from composting to allowing sheep to graze among the vines in the spring, reinforcing the belief that supporting healthy soils and a thriving ecosystem has never been more important.

When we asked the Dunn family to describe what Retro Cellars means to them, they shared:
“For us, Retro is about living with intention, preserving what matters, honoring traditions, and leaving room for creative exploration. Whether you're savoring a glass of Petite Sirah by a fireplace or picnicking with Zinfandel at a vineyard table, we hope our wines bring you into the moment, connecting you to the land, the process, and each other.”

It is this balance between heritage and stewardship, intention and joy, that makes Retro Cellars so compelling to us. We are proud to stand alongside the Dunn family as they carry forward a legacy rooted in Howell Mountain while thoughtfully shaping a regenerative future. Retro is not just a reflection of where Napa has been, but a clear expression of where it can go next, and we are honored to share these wines and their story with those who value authenticity, care for the land, and wines made with purpose.