Meet the
Team
Great wine always tells a story of experience. The nuances and subtle notes that mark a great wine are rarely accidental: they are there because the winemaker understands the subtleties of process. Our team brings decades of diverse experience in all facets of wine making and hospitality and we think it makes all the difference, both in the quality of our wines and the experience of visiting our tasting lounges. We’re unique people making unique wines. That’s not accidental. To find out more about our inimitable team, keep reading.
Founders
Dr. Michael & Beni Dragutsky
Like a lot of great things, Cornerstone Cellars started with a conversation between friends sharing a really great bottle of wine. That’s where Michael Dragutsky hatched the idea to start a winery. That led to the purchase of 5 tons of grapes. If you have 5 tons of grapes, you’re going to be making wine whether you want to or not.
1991 saw the first production from Cornerstone Cellars, 300 cases of Howell Mountain Cabernet. By 1994, Cornerstone Cellars Cabernet started garnering accolades from the trade. Now Cornerstone produces several varietals, around 4,000 cases worth. Today, Cornerstone is not too big, not too small. We think it’s just the right size. Dr. Dragutsky thinks that when it comes to wineries, size is important: Cornerstone is still able to pay attention to everything that goes into every bottle. That’s what has allowed us to make great wine, year in, year out, for three decades.
Managing Partner
Matthew Mills
Matt is a Bay Area native, a swimmer, a dad, and a former brass-tacks business guy who fell in love with wine. So much so, in fact, that he ended up striking out north to Napa, where he has since started a family and become a local. He has been at the forefront of sales and customer experience, building successful hospitality teams and growing Direct-to-Consumer programs for a variety of boutique, luxury wineries.
Matt doesn’t just really like wine; he committed to it. He’s a voracious learner, as well as a passionate and lucid storyteller, and he’s always eager to share his deep knowledge of the wine marketplace with anyone who asks.
Matt lives with his wife, two children and a very large dog in Napa and is a WSET Diploma candidate.
Hospitality Manager
Sean Robinson
As our hospitality manager, Sean’s attention to detail is exceptional. That comes from a unique career path that gave him insight into how to make every person feel welcome. He learned his trade working as a hospitality specialist at the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco for more than a decade, and he has also worked in private service as a butler (not the starched kind you see on public television; more of an approachable but no-less thoughtfully attentive Northern California butler). He’s also worked in some of Napa’s cozier tasting rooms.
Sean firmly believes that wine is for everyone, and he thinks that an essential aspect of any hospitable tasting room is education. He’s here to answer, so be sure to ask. Sean’s broad knowledge and welcoming smile make tastings at Cornerstone Cellars memorable.
Sales & Hospitality Associate
Lisa Hicklin
Lisa has been immersed in the Napa Valley wine scene since the 1970s, cultivating a lifelong passion for the region and its wines. Over the years, she has honed her expertise in retail sales and customer service, always striving to create memorable, personalized experiences for every guest she meets.
Her favorite part of the job is sharing the stories behind the wines—inviting guests to join her on the journey from vineyard to glass. Along the way, she has had the privilege of working with several outstanding Napa wineries, continually expanding her knowledge and deepening her appreciation for the craft.
With an infectious enthusiasm and genuine love for hospitality, Lisa delights in welcoming people from around the world who come to explore Napa Valley. For her, every day is an opportunity to connect, educate, and celebrate the joy of wine together.