The story behind the name

Dovetail Cellars owner and winemaker Ben Stuart grew up watching his dad cut dovetail joints by hand in his cabinet shop. He admired the combination of craftsmanship, precision, and creativity—and years later found many of those same qualities in winemaking.

Ben graduated from the Enology and Viticulture program in Walla Walla in 2015 and began his professional winemaking career at Burnt Bridge Cellars in Vancouver, Washington. He served as winemaker there through the 2022 vintage, the same year he began making wine under his own Dovetail Cellars label. Dovetail's first release, Bird in Hand Chardonnay, followed in February 2024.

Today, Ben focuses exclusively on Dovetail, making wines from vineyards across Washington State with an emphasis on thoughtful vineyard selection, blending, and wines that are expressive without being overworked.

The name Dovetail is a tribute to his father, but it also reflects what the winery is about: connections—to place, craft, family and friends.