Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz’s passion for the Napa Valley emanated from a visit to California in the 90’s. At the time, the two proprietors were keen to learn as much as possible about the region, its terroir and the well known ability to grow cabernet sauvignon in this semi-maritime environment north of San Francisco. Of course, they were also keen to acquire greater knowledge of the US wine market and its consumer’s insatiable appetite for high end wine, so they journeyed across the great cities and restaurants of the vast and dynamic country to check it out.

In these early days they met many influential wine people of the USA, one contact leading to another. They barrel tasted at some of the most renowned wineries and took tours and vineyard walks at Araujo, Shafer, Harlan, Beringer, Opus One, Lagier Meredith, Spottswoode, Dalle Valle... and the list goes on. At each visit, Michael and Richard absorbed like sponges the idiosyncratic nature of the people, the dirt and the way they made wine.

Years later, in a position to obtain great fruit from vineyards across a number of micro climates of the Napa Valley, followed by an opportunity to work with one of the valley’s more well known winemakers, Thomas Brown, at the world class winery Outpost, the temptation was far too great to ignore. Hence the birth of Two Hands Napa in 2005.