MEET THE ACRE TEAM
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Acre Wine owners, Mike and Talley Henry, share a passion for producing expressive, terroir-driven wines from family-owned estate vineyards, while carrying on their family legacy in the wine business.
Mike had the good fortune of being introduced to the inner workings of the wine business at an early age. Through his father, Warner Henry, a true wine industry pioneer, advocate for small family-owned wineries, and connoisseur of fine wines, Mike learned about the finest wine regions in France as well as the burgeoning regions of California, including the Napa Valley. One of his first jobs was in the warehouse of his father’s new wine distribution business, Vintage House, which later became The Henry Wine Group. Warner is credited with setting the industry standard for modern day fine wine marketing and distribution in the U.S as we know it today, with his innovative approach and focus on creating opportunities for small wineries to reach a broader consumer audience.
Post grad school, Mike worked his way up the corporate ladder as an IT Executive at Time Inc. and as a producer of documentary films, while Talley was focused on her legal career as an attorney at law firm Nixon Peabody in San Francisco, following more than a decade in the US Navy and JAG Corps. However, Mike and Talley had a shared epiphany while savoring a glass of wine in a remote vineyard in Bordeaux that ultimately set them on a path to pursue their passion for the vine. Shortly thereafter, Mike joined his father at The Henry Wine Group where he had the opportunity to hone his skills in wine sales and brand management and to work with numerous small family-owned wineries around the world, including Acre.
Years later, with the sale of The Henry Wine Group and some serendipitous timing, Mike and Talley were thrilled to take the helm at Acre Wines and to bring their breadth of knowledge and passion for wine to the Acre mission, with a keen eye on the future and a nod to the winery’s roots. Together, the Henrys oversee the production and operations of the combined Acre, One Acre, and Old Lodge portfolios, with Mike focusing on domestic distribution and Talley focusing on the direct-to-consumer experience and international export relationships. The Henrys are proud and honored to be able to carry the torch in leading Acre Wines and are thankful for the legacy Dave Becker and Bob Babbe passed on to them.
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Mike and Talley are thrilled to collaborate with veteran winemaker, Richard Bruno, for all Acre, One Acre, and Old Lodge wines. Richard’s esteemed career in the wine business began in 1985, when his experience in the restaurant business and exposure to rare and exciting wines inspired him to become a winemaker in his own right. Richard received his degree in Viticulture & Enology from UC Davis and subsequently made wine for some of the world’s most well-known wineries, from Santa Cruz to Napa, including Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Pozzan Winery, and Don Sebastiani & Sons. Richard is also owner and winemaker with partner Chris Condos of the celebrated Vinum Cellars, the launch of which he credits Mike’s father, Warner Henry, and The Henry Wine Group. In 2017, things once again came full circle, when Richard joined Mike and Talley as Consulting Winemaker at Acre Wines. The Acre team is in terrific hands with Richard at the helm of its winemaking efforts!
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
Thank you, Dave Becker & Bob Babbe
Dave Becker, a true visionary, vintner, and farmer created Acre and One Acre wines through planting and cultivating his own vineyards and learning the farming process from the ground up. He acquired his viticulture and winemaking experience on the job in tending to his personal vineyards, which birthed the One Acre slogan: “One Acre, One Guy, One Wine.” Dave’s deep understanding of every aspect of the farming process made him a firm proponent of the proposition that great wines are “grown” not “made.” Dave’s first vintage of One Acre Cabernet bested 500 entries for Best in Class at a prestigious international wine competition in Hong Kong, which prompted Dave to join forces with close friend and 30-year wine industry veteran, co-founder Bob Babbe, to bring the limited production One Acre experience to a much wider audience with the launch of Acre Wines.
Bob Babbe watched with keen interest as his good friend and Napa neighbor Dave Becker brought One Acre wines to life. With 30 years of wine industry experience as owner and national sales manager for Cartlidge & Browne Winery, Bob had the pleasure of working with numerous outstanding fine wine distributors and sales personnel throughout the country. When the winery sold, Bob joined forces with Dave and brought his invaluable marketing and sales expertise to launch Acre Wines and provided a terrific foundation in the initial years of Acre’s growth, for which the Henrys are abundantly grateful.
While Dave and Bob have both passed the baton, the Acre team is extremely fortunate that Dave’s expertly farmed vineyards will continue to provide the fruit for two of One Acre’s core wines.