Craig Handly’s path to wine began far from Napa Valley, in New Mexico, where exposure to clouds, mountains, climate and culture shaped a sense of place. After an almost art degree at college in San Diego State and a summer of commercial Salmon fishing in Kodiak Alaska he struck out to cultivate the unknown.
A drive through Napa led to St. Helena where vineyards, seasons, and cultural deep wine heritage sparked a lasting fascination. A design career soon intertwined with the industry as he crafted labels and branding for wineries in a design studio he built with his wife, artist Susan Carpenter.
Their close relationships with winemakers and deep knowledge of wine packaging naturally evolved into winemaking itself. In 2000, Craig began UC Davis enology studies and launched their first brands, Centa, Terroir Napa Valley and Gibbs Napa Valley.
In 2012 they assumed stewardship of Susan’s family St. Helena vineyards, cultivated since 1961 by Dr. Lewis Carpenter. Today, Craig manages the Centa and Cross Creek vineyards with his son Spencer and collaborates with winemaker Julia Schreiber on the Gibbs Napa Valley Estate wines.
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
