Our Team
We are a family-owned winery. Our dedicated team crafts exceptional wines from premium, cool-climate vineyards.
CRAIG MCALLISTER
HEAD WINEMAKER
A New Zealand native, Craig McAllister spent his first 20 years in Christchurch, New Zealand, then lived in London for six years. He has traveled extensively throughout the world. He found himself drawn not just to the wine industry but to the wine lifestyle due to his love of cooking, traveling, and being outdoors. This led him to Lincoln University in New Zealand, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in viticulture and enology.
"Quality drives us. From the rush and intensity of harvest to bottling and taking our wines to market. Quality is our north star."
ERIC JOHANNSEN
WINEMAKER
Eric Johannsen is no stranger to Northern California wine country. Having grown up in the redwood-forested Santa Cruz Mountains, vineyards and wineries were almost literally in his backyard. “I would hike or ride my bike through the historic Jesuit monastery vineyards, and those old, gnarly vines seemed so dramatic. When my folks went wine tasting at the top of our road, my sister and I would tag along. The old stone cellar of the Novitiate (now Testarossa Winery) seemed saturated with the smell of wine. It remains an indelible sense-memory.” Another fixture of life were large family gatherings, often up at a rustic cabin in the mountains, always with plenty to eat and drink. The importance of celebration, conviviality, the communal table were firmly planted in his psyche.
"I'm fascinated by the cyclical yet irreproducible nature of winemaking: Every year, the process repeats, but no one vintage is the same as any other, no one wine is the same as any other."
LISA VALTENBERGS
FACILITY WINEMAKER
Lisa Valtenbergs has always had a sensitive nose—an attribute that inspired family and friends to declare she should put her sensory gift to good use making perfume or wine. It proved to be shrewd advice—Lisa has since crafted over 20 vintages of wine on several continents.
"Focusing on balance, approachability and elegance throughout the growing season and winemaking process are all important attributes we strive for as a winegrowing team."
TRACEY SHEPOS CENAMI
EXECUTIVE CHEF AND CHEESE SPECIALIST
Tracey Shepos Cenami grew up in a family that was always cooking. Her Italian nonna and mother put considerable thought into everyday meals, treating each as a special occasion. She held her first job as a dishwasher at a summer camp and was immediately hooked on the camaraderie, artistic expression, and satisfaction of the kitchen. She knew she had found her calling. Throughout high school, she continued to pursue jobs in the culinary industry before attending the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco.
“I love the prospect of living in wine country and having the opportunity to create food to pair with specific wines.”
HAILEY HARTFORD MURRAY
Third-Generation, Co-Proprietor
Hailey Jackson Hartford Murray has winemaking in her blood. As granddaughter of Jackson Family Wines founder Jess Jackson, and daughter of Jennifer Jackson Hartford and Don Hartford, she’s been immersed in the wine business since childhood.
“We have to think about what's best not just for the health of our land and people in the short term, but what decisions we can make that will ensure our community will be here for 200 years.”
BARBARA BANKE
CHAIRMAN & PROPRIETOR
Barbara Banke, a graduate of UCLA and Hastings Law School, served as a land use and constitutional law attorney. She argued cases before the United States Supreme Court and Courts of Appeals before she transitioned to wine. Her prior experience is what set the foundation of La Crema’s commitment to land stewardship and discovering new terroirs that align with the high standards of La Crema’s portfolio.
“We’re always looking for the next perfect wine or great vineyard. That prospect of making something really spectacular and discovering something new is what motivates me.”
