Milla Handley

After earning her Fermentation Science degree in 1975 at the University of California at Davis, Milla worked for winemakers Richard Arrowood at Chateau St. Jean and Jed Steele at Edmeades. In 1978 she headed to Anderson Valley, which was then largely uncharted viticultural territory, and established Handley Cellars in 1982. “I was captivated by the valley’s possibilities," Milla says. "The people here possess an independent spirit, and I felt I could follow my own path, somewhat removed from the entrenched winemaking culture. I wanted my wines to capture the essence of this extraordinary place.” More than 25 years later, Handley Cellars’ wines do just that.

The Handley Cellars label reflects Milla’s love and respect for nature. Her parents were collectors of tribal art, and she was raised in a household surrounded by objects inspired by the beauty of the natural world. When working on the design for the Handley Cellars label, she was inspired by the ancient tribal textiles of the African Kuba tribes. The tasting room décor, too, reflects her love of tribal art.

Milla’s commitment to sustainable and organic farming began long before it was popular, leading her to obtain organic certification for the Handley Estate Vineyard in 2005. Every case the winery produces (currently 18,000 per year) is crafted from grapes grown in the Handley family vineyards in Anderson and Dry Creek Valley, or by trusted growers in the Mendocino County appellations of Anderson Valley, Mendocino Ridge, Potter Valley, and Redwood Valley.

Milla carefully balances the roles of proprietor and winemaker at Handley Cellars. She is involved in every aspect of the winery operation, from vineyards and wines to her unique tasting room. Milla’s down-to-earth nature makes Handley Cellars a welcoming and comfortable place.