People
George O. Hendry
With his parents and brother, George moved to Napa in 1939 at the age of two. He grew up on the ranch and learned to tend the goats, the cows, the prune orchard and the grapevines. He completed his undergraduate degree at U.C. Berkeley in 1959 and after two years in the U.S. Navy, completed a masters degree in 1963. Following graduation, George began working for a company called the Cyclotron Corporation. (Cyclotrons are a type of particle accelerator primarily used for the production of radio isotopes used in medical imaging.)
Over the next 40 years, at various companies including his own, George distinguished himself as a cyclotron designer. Many of his designs and innovations are in use in cyclotrons and hospitals around the world. George’s latest innovative cyclotron design was completed in 2008, and he continues to consult for the company he founded. When he wasn't designing cyclotrons, George was usually working here on the ranch.
He's now been growing his own grapes for more than 50 years, and making solid, delicious and dependable wines from them for more than 30. Whether growing grapes, making Hendry wines, or designing cyclotrons, George applies the same tenacity and ability to apply fundamental concepts. His detailed approach to winegrowing has earned a reputation, and is reflected in our vineyard and our wine.
Mike Hendry 
Mike Hendry was born in Davis California, and grew up near Edmonton Alberta, in Canada. As a child, he visited the Hendry Ranch each year with his family. This property had been purchased by his grandparents in 1939. Through the 70's 80's and 90's, with the efforts of his uncle George, the Hendry Ranch transformed from mostly pasture and prunes to over a hundred acres of vineyard and a winery with the capacity to process all of the Ranch's grapes.
Mike's career in wine began unassumingly, with a shovel and pruning shears, when he worked in the vineyard during and after high school. He completed degrees in Biology, Physics and Engineering at UC Davis, and worked as a professional fishing guide, before joining George full time at the Hendry Ranch in 2001. For the last 25 years Mike has devoted much of his time and energy to the management of the Hendry Vineyard and the making and selling of Hendry Wines.
In 2009, Mike married Molly Bair, and that same year they started their own wine label, Mike & Molly Hendry, with fruit from the historic R.W. Moore Vineyard. Today, Mike, Molly, and their son Drew live at the Hendry Ranch in Napa.
ANGELA DOUGLASS
Angela Douglass has been the smiling face and voice of Hendry for over 20 years.
Her outgoing nature and get-stuff-done mentality have served her well in her capacity as all-around head honcho of winery sales and marketing.
She also plays host to our devoted wine club, which she’s grown from a
wait-listed barrel’s worth of people to a thriving wine community.
Our Vineyard Crew
At Hendry, we have a vineyard crew that is like no other. Our small, full-time team of just over a dozen people care for every single vine by hand. From planting, grafting, pruning, thinning and managing the canopy, all the way to harvest, they know this 114-acre vineyard by heart. Our cellar crew, Mario and Jose, take it from there, working full time in the cellar during the long hours of harvest and through the year. During bottling, the vineyard crew pulls together to help get the wines into the bottle and box and out to you.
The average tenure of a Hendry vineyard crew member is more than 30 years. The pride they take in their work shows in every bottle. Senior vineyard staff, Jose Fernandez (1990), Gonzalo Herrera (1990), Juan Prado (1977), Pedro Gutierrez (1980) and Vicente Diaz (1974), are now training a new generation of full-time Hendry vineyard crew members. Cellar Master Rafael Melgoza (1982), pictured here, and Vineyard Lead Manuel Plancarte (1977), and have recently retired, with over 90 years experience between them. We thank them for all they contributed during their time at Hendry, and wish them the very best. They deserve it!
Jeff and Jan Miller
Jeff Miller has been with the winery as its general manager since its beginning, and was also a partner in George’s Cyclotron Inc.. Jeff manages the winery and coordinates the logistics and operations that get the wine from tank to bottle.
Jan Miller applies her experience as a former business owner to managing winery accounting, and is also responsible for all in-house lab work. A woman of many talents, she is a former personal trainer, dancer and runner, as well as a certified yoga instructor and now, the reigning queen of fermentations during the busy harvest season.
Tamara Landre
Tamara first visited Hendry as a wine buyer for a St. Helena restaurant. It was then that she was struck by the level of integrity and quality she found at Hendry. If you've read anything that came from Hendry, from emails to social media posts, there's a good chance that it was written, designed and/or photographed by Tamara. She can be spotted helping out in the tasting room, too. Her extensive wine knowledge, passion for education and experience in graphic design and writing mean that she wears many hats here at the winery.
Therese Brown
Therese hails from the Midwest and followed her love of wine to the Napa Valley. As a former tour guide, she has visited many of the wineries throughout the Napa Valley and we’re delighted that she found a home here at Hendry. Her vibrant personality, wine knowledge and willingness to share it have made her a great fit to be our National Sales rep. When she is not traveling around the country spreading the Hendry love, she is here at the winery helping with our tours and tastings.
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MEGAN CARTER
Megan’s love of wine brought her back to her native California after many years studying and working for a non-profit in Boston. Her roles at Hendry have been varied, from scripting and co-hosting the Hendry Virtual Tasting series with Mike Hendry to managing winery events throughout the year. Megan completed the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines and Spirits with distinction. She has also gained hands-on experience in the field, too, pitching in during harvest in the vineyard and winery. In each of these pursuits, Megan has brought enthusiasm, curiosity and diligence.
LINDA CHAMPAGNE
We welcomed Linda Champagne to our team in 2021. Linda is a true Napa local, and has a wealth of historical knowledge about the valley, its wine and its wineries to share with our guests.
Linda also shares her extensive knowledge and wine experience away from Hendry as a freelance wine tour and hiking guide. She is “continuously renovating” the 99-year-old house in downtown Napa that she shares with her husband Steve, their cat Squeaky, and at least 20 (unwelcome) squirrels.
SKIP SMITH
We are delighted to have Skip Smith join us in the Hendry tasting room. A homegrown Napa local and proud Army veteran who now resides in Sonoma, Skip has a broad knowledge of both valleys that goes way, way back.
From cellar rat to manager, Skip has held diverse roles in wineries ranging in size from garagiste to gargantuan, and brings a wealth of experience to Hendry. Warmth, wisdom and wine experience—what’s not to like?!
An avid home gardener, Skip farms an insanely tiny plot of insanely hot
peppers, among other things, at his home in Sonoma, and spends many a weekend swashbuckling at Ren Faires across the country.
AMBER HAYES
If this face looks familiar, it's because Amber's been around for a while! After more than a decade as Angela's trusty wing-woman at events and off-site tastings, Amber Hayes has finally joined us here at the winery.
Her cheery voice is among the first you'll hear if you call in for a reservation. She brings enthusiasm, laughter and a kind heart to everything she does at Hendry, and she's rapidly learning everything she can about wine.
Rigo Nava
Rigo Nava is Hendry’s Clark Kent. Soft-spoken, knowledgeable, and easygoing, he’s a guest favorite for his relaxed and friendly tastings. But once he gets talking about wine, his quiet demeanor gives way to serious passion and expertise.
Born and raised in Napa, Rigo was inspired early by his father, a longtime cellar master and vineyard manager. He holds an AS in Viticulture and Enology, a History degree from UC Davis, and a WSET Level 2 Certification. He’s worked across the wine industry, most recently with Hall Family Wines in St. Helena.
When he’s not at the winery, Rigo might be traveling the world, following the F1 racing circuit to some of its most iconic and glamorous locations. He also serves as the volunteer Marketing Director for the Napa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and hosts a podcast and YouTube channel where he interviews professionals and entrepreneurs to inspire the next generation of business leaders.
