Your friends in Napa
Tyler Hinsley
Tyler Hinsley was born and raised in Napa Valley, though his path into wine was not always obvious.
After high school, he moved to New York City to attend The King's College, where he studied business management, economics, and philosophy while also playing collegiate basketball.
When Tyler returned to Napa in 2016 to pursue a career in wine, he knew very little about the industry or wine itself. What he lacked in knowledge, he made up for with curiosity and drive. He spent countless hours visiting wineries, asking questions, tasting wines, and trying to understand what made certain bottles and experiences stand apart.
Then came the moment that changed everything. While tasting a Cabernet Sauvignon one afternoon, Tyler experienced his “ah-ha” moment. For the first time, a wine truly stood apart from the rest. It made him stop and think: Why is this different? Why is this exceptional?
That "ah-ha" moment completely changed how Tyler perceived wine. Until then, wine had largely felt like a product people bought and sold, like anything else. This moment connected him to something much deeper. He became drawn to the soul, story, craftsmanship, place, and purpose behind the bottle. It opened his eyes to the idea that wine is not simply something consumed and sold, but something that connects people through conversation, hospitality, memory, and shared experience.
From that point forward, Tyler approached wine not simply as a business, but as a living experience capable of enriching our lives and bringing people together. To him, wine is a living time capsule, preserving the conversations, relationships, and moments shared around the table long after the bottle is gone.
Throughout the years, Tyler has held a variety of roles across Napa Valley wineries, including Director of Marketing at G V Cellars, E-Marketing at Bouchaine Vineyards, Estate Director at Krupp Brothers, and Director of Hospitality for JACK Winery and Two Old Dogs.
For Tyler, great hospitality has always mattered just as much as great wine. As the son of a restaurateur, he believes the best experiences come from genuine care, thoughtful details, and understanding what makes people feel welcomed and connected to the experience.
Emily Hinsley
Wine has the power to change your life. For Emily, it led her on an adventure she never could have imagined.
Originally from Hartland Michigan, Emily studied communication with a focus in speech and graphic design before beginning her career in the travel industry, working for an agency specializing in international group tours.
In 2020, Emily found herself drawn toward a different kind of work, one that would get her out of a cubicle and closer to nature. Although wine had always been present around the table growing up in her Italian family, she had never considered it as a career until a close French friend encouraged her to explore the industry further. The idea immediately sparked her interest.
Her introduction to the wine industry began in the vineyards of Northern Michigan, pruning vines alongside the team at Bel Lago Winery. That experience changed the way she viewed wine entirely. What once felt like simply a beverage became something far more layered: agriculture, craftsmanship, science, storytelling, and human connection all existing within one bottle.
While working in the vineyards, Emily felt a peace that confirmed for her that she was on the right path. That experience ultimately led Emily west to California in 2021, where she pursued her first harvest at Hamel Family Wines. Working harvest introduced her to the precision and discipline of winemaking, while deepening her respect for the immense care required to produce great wine. She later continued building that foundation as a viticulture intern with HALL Wines, working across vineyard sites throughout Napa and Sonoma.
In 2022, Emily spent two months traveling throughout France exploring historic wine regions. This experience reinforced her belief that wine is far more than what is in the glass.
When Emily returned to Napa Valley, she transitioned into hospitality, bringing her behind-the-scenes vineyard and production knowledge directly into the guest experience at The Saint Wine Bar and later with Mark Herold Wines.
For Emily, what makes wine truly special is found at its core; the land and the people that steward it. Emily’s passion for travel and continuous learning has only deepened this perspective over time.
Today, what drives her most is helping tell the stories of the places and people who devote themselves to this craft, preserving the emotion, purpose, and connection that make wine so meaningful.
