A Sonoma County native, Mike was born and raised in the Dry Creek Valley of Healdsburg, California. While his mother was employed at E&J Gallo Winery for decades, he was raised on the historic Frei Ranch and spent his earliest years exploring the vineyards and cellar. Some of Mike’s fondest memories are tasting fruit ripening over the growing season and smelling aromatics of fermentation drifting out of the winery. These childhood memories made a firm imprint on his trajectory, and he knew he would make wine professionally one day.

Mike earned a Bachelor of Science in Viticulture and Enology from Cornell University in 2012, and more recently an Executive MBA in Wine Business from Sonoma State University in 2021. He has completed vintages in Marlborough, New Zealand as well as Mendoza, Argentina, and has completed 16 commercial harvests to date. Mike’s meticulous approach to winemaking has been heavily influenced by winemakers he’s worked with such as Michel Rolland, Martha McCllelan, Bob Levy, and Jennifer Williams. It is Mike’s philosophy that truly outstanding wine can only be crafted in the vineyard, therefor attention to detail in farming is paramount to a wine’s success.