Welcome to Our B(ooze) Log

Tim Espinoza - The Man Behind The Booze

The Man Behind

The Booze

Everybody, meet Tim – Napa Valley Distillery’s Production manager and Head Distiller!

If you currently have any of our spirits or cocktails in your home bar, chances are that Tim is the guy who made it. Tim has been with the company since early 2015, but having been born and raised in Napa where he’s lived for over 30 years now, he’s always been intrigued with the world of alcohol. He first got into alcohol production working under Don Barkley, California’s first craft brewer since Prohibition, eventually becoming a Draft Technician. Tim has also worked on the sales end of the industry as Head of Sales at Carneros Brewery, but ultimately found his passion in production.

Tim came in contact with Napa Valley Distillery in May 2015, but was not hired as a Distiller. Initially, Tim was hired to work for one week helping pack Bar Club boxes. He took advantage of the situation to shadow Production Assistant Carlos and bend owner Arthur’s ear about his passion for spirits – and it worked. At the time Arthur didn’t have an opening for a position in production, so Tim was hired at the Oxbow Tasting Room, where he worked in sales. Eventually, in November of 2016 he was hired full-time as Production manager.

As Production Manager, Tim oversees all production operations i.e. fermenting, blending, proofing and bottling of products. He also manages the production schedule for his team, consisting of Carlos and Tyler. The three of them are to thank for all Napa Valley Distillery spirits filling your home bars – including Tim’s favorite, the Grand California. Fun fact: it’s the first spirit he made as a Distiller with the company! 

Of course, he and the production team are also in love with our Old Hollywood Ginns and excited to unveil more varieties in the future. As for Tim’s future with the company, he hopes over the next ten years to help build Napa Valley Distillery into a household name – a goal that doesn’t seem too far off.

You might run into Tim the next time you visit our Grand Tasting Salon. Be sure to say hi and ask him any of your burning spirited questions!

Feb 15, 2019 at 11:36 AM Permalink

Lulu Hartunian - The First Lady of Napa Valley Distillery

The First Lady

of Napa Valley Distillery

Everybody, meet Lusine (or, as we all know her, Lulu) – Co-Owner of Napa Valley Distillery and owner of epicurean boutique Napastäk!

Like her husband and Distillery Co-Owner Arthur, Lulu was born in Armenia. She and her family came to California in 1980. In 1996, she and Arthur met and started a family. She graduated with an Associate of Arts and, coincidentally like Arthur, worked in law for a time before realizing that wasn’t what she wanted to do.

Lulu has always had a passion for the culinary arts (especially with three kids to feed!) She has always enjoyed cooking and the experience it can provide for a family or a social setting. Coinciding with Arthur’s passion for spirits, Lulu believes that food plays an equally important role in the dining experience. She recalls watching Ratatouille with her family once, when the inspiration struck her. “What does Napa need?” she thought, and decided what it needed was a lifestyle brand of quality ingredients and kitchenware to enhance the dining experience in the home.

Arthur began sketching a logo – a rabbit holding a spoon. They enjoyed the idea of the Distillery and its sister company both having animal logos. The word “Napastäk” came to them, which means “the rabbit” in Armenian and was incidentally their daughter Isabella’s second word (after "papa"). From there, in 2014 Napastäk was born. The shop opened in the Oxbow, taking over the Distillery Tasting Room’s original retail space once it moved.

Today, Lulu runs the show at Napastäk and is excited to open its second location soon next to the Archer Hotel on First Street. Napastäk is preparing to release and do tastings of their own wines, a full realization of Lulu’s ideal kitchen experience. In addition to setting the daily game plans for Napastäk, helping attend to Napa Valley Distillery needs and, most importantly, being a mom, Lulu is excited for the future of both companies. She hopes within ten years to establish a Napastäk food club to compliment the Distillery Bar Club. 

Some of Lulu’s favorite places to eat and drink in the Napa Valley include Zuzu, Torc and Bouchon. Her cocktail of choice is an old fashioned or a vesper, but she loves gin, as well. In fact, one of her favorite Napa Valley Distillery items is the Summer Sequel Ginn!

Come see Lulu and the Napastäk team at the Oxbow and at the new First Street location, opening very soon!

Feb 1, 2019 at 1:00 PM Permalink