Dennis started working the land as a 12 year old, driving a tractor in the orchards of California‘s Central Valley. When he became fascinated by the unique properties of the grape, it led to degrees in Enology and Food Science at Fresno State. When the wine business led him to Northern California‘s Alexander Valley in 1982, he began to forge long standing relationships with some of the finest wine growers in the world. During a distinguished career covering all facets of winemaking, Dennis served as Director and President of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture.Dennis’ guiding philosophy is terroir, loosely translated from French as “a sense of place.” In terms of winemaking it is the combination of soil, water and climate that makes the grape unique. Reflecting its name, Dennis sees Sanctuary as a carefully selected place where the rare characteristics of a great wine are allowed to find full expression.