Craig earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Plant Science and Master’s Degree in Enology from the University of California at Davis, and has over 20 years of winemaking experience in the Napa Valley. Craig has specialized in Bordeaux blends and varietals for a several boutique wineries, among them Cain and Spring Mountain Vineyards.  Craig joined Ilsley Vineyards in 2000 and has carefully crafted each of the winery’s vintages. 

"I believe that Nature provides everything a winemaker needs to make great tasting and long lived wines.  Being attuned to Nature and its processes, both in the vineyard and in the winery, allows me to create wines that balance drinkability with ageability in almost any vintage.

"My role as winemaker is to listen to what nature has to say.  I don’t aim to create the same wine every year.  Nor do I aspire to a critic’s ideal.  If I did, something wonderful would be lost:  Nature’s balance — The unique interaction between the vines and the soil and the conditions of a given growing season.”