The Wines of Napa Valley’s Cardinale
By Karen MacNeil
September 11, 2026
“I like sitting in cathedrals and feeling the atmosphere,” he says. “Then again, I also like being in a good bar.”
Chris Carpenter is sitting across from me. Tall, tanned, and handsome, he’s a got a football player’s build and a gravelly Marlon Brando-like voice. His gray spiky hair matches his gray T-shirt and gray shorts. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him when his hands and boots weren’t dirty.
But of course they would be. Because Chris Carpenter is a working winemaker. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.
