Our Story
Farmer first, Farmer Always
Pat Dineen grew up on a Wisconsin dairy farm, part of a long lineage of Irish farmers tracing back to County Cork.
After graduating from Marquette University and serving in the Air Force, Pat met his wife, Lanie, in Colorado Springs. Together they moved to Washington, where he began a career in banking.
Pat and Lanie, along with their daughters Marissa and Bridget, built a life centered on family, food, and wine shared around the table with friends.
As Pat’s 40-year banking career wound down, he felt a pull back to his agricultural roots.
"Wine connects us to one another"
Watching the vineyard change with the seasons is magical - and deeply grounding. There is nothing quite like seeing today's vines become tomorrow's wine.
The Dineen family has always valued togetherness - sharing meals, chores, laughter, and life's moments. That spirit inspires our vineyard and winery, where bringing joy to others is the heart of what we do.
Our motto is, "Agriculture connects us to the earth, wine connects us to one another."
Finding Dineen Vineyards
After considering Northern California and Walla Walla, where daughter Bridget attended Whitman College, they ended up finding their dreamy hilltop site near Zillah in the Yakima Valley. Pat’s banking career gave him insight into the various fruit growing regions across Eastern Washington and he knew this area was highly desirable.
They were drawn to the area’s natural beauty, climate, soils, and water — perfect for apples, stone fruit, cherries, and wine grapes. In 2001, they bought a 12-acre apple orchard and replaced the trees with vines. The next year, they added 80 more acres which is now home to the Winery & Tasting Room.
In true family spirit, the original 12 acres were named Catherine’s Vineyard after Pat’s mother. As the vineyard grew, additional blocks were named after other family members - Lanie, Marissa, Bridget, Charlotte, Quinn and Rose. Today, all of the buildings are designed to echo the architectural style of the Dineen family farm in Wisconsin.
The Story of the Black Truck
When Pat Dineen was a kid, post-WWII supply chain issues made getting a new farm truck nearly impossible. His family in Wisconsin waited and waited, constantly fixing old trucks again and again — what a headache. Then, one day, the new truck finally arrived. For Pat and his six siblings, it was a huge moment.
So when the Dineen’s planted their vineyard, Pat knew they needed a truck. To him, the truck symbolizes heritage, family, and optimism. It’s practical, but it also brings joy. To this day, the black truck is an important symbol in the Dineen logo and their story of family heritage.
Stewarding our Land
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
We all live on the same planet and should take care of the resources and creatures that inhabit our world. The soil, water and the atmosphere play crucial roles in ensuring the health of our grapevines.
Dineen Vineyards practices regenerative agriculture and is Certified Sustainable under both the Lodi Rules and Sustainable WA. These 3rd party audited programs encompass a “Triple Bottom Line” — environmental responsibility, social responsibility and traditional profit and loss. We do not optimize any of these at the expense of another. It is the right thing to do.
Quality
At Dineen Vineyards, we understand that the quality of our wine begins with the land and our care in the vineyard. Our grapes are grown in one of the pre-eminent sites in the State of Washington. Our meticulous management practices ensure the health of the vine and quality of fruit from pruning through harvest. Our boutique winemaking processes balance science, art and passion to produce elegant wines in limited quantities.
