Seth started out a Yankee born just outside of Boston, MA, but has since been reborn a Southerner living in North Carolina for over 10 years now. His love of food and wine was a combination of working in the family business starting at a young age.
After graduating from the University of Florida with a BS in Microbiology and Cell Science, Seth started cooking school just two weeks later at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. Seth graduated at the top of his culinary class.
At some point in his food career Seth realized that the sommelier (wine guy) in a fine dining restaurant had the best of both worlds- food/eating and wine/drinking! The deep study of wine ensued and Seth came to North Carolina as the first sommelier for the Siena Hotel in Chapel Hill. Still thirsty for more exposure to all things made from grapes, Seth took a retail wine position with Wellspring/Whole Foods and was given "carte blanche" status to create the flagship wine department in the region. He spent the last three years working in the wholesale side of the wine business.
And finally it was time to return to the thing that made Seth happiest - selling wine in a retail store to share his passion and spread the word about quality, value and family owned/estate grown agriculture. [ email Seth ]
A North Carolina native (from Havelock, down east), Craig is the former buyer of the late, great Fowler's Gourmet from 1995-2001 and taught wine education for five years through Duke University's Continuing Education program as well as for The Henry Wine Group where he was their wine educator for the eastern US from 2002 -2006. He's an ECU graduate with a BFA in Sculpture. It's in Greenville that he was first introduced to fine food and wine while working in several fine restaurants. Using skills learned in school, he designed and welded the beautiful wine racks at Wine Authorities while listening to vintage punk rock, blues, avant-garde and African music. He's a bit of a music nut, listening whenever he gets the chance.
He lives in Durham with his lovely wife Michelle and two silly but responsible daughters, Kelly and Amanda. He has a dog named Weezie ("who is all about love") and a cat named Kevin ("who is always trying to lick my flesh to the bone."). Although his family and friends recommend he shouldn't, he still periodically rides a bmx bike with friends who are much more skilled at it. He enjoys cooking, eating, drinking, nature and a life outside the norm. Someday he hopes to spend a year barefoot someplace nice. [ email Craig ]
