Napa Valley is well-versed in the art of hospitality: vineyard tours, barrel tastings, farm-to-table dinners. But Napa winery Annulus is rewriting the script. Founded in 2020 by husband-and-wife team Luke Evnin and Deann Wright, Annulus has already made waves with its small-production, vineyard-driven wines crafted by winemaker Nigel Kinsman. Now, the family-owned label is extending the experience beyond the glass with two distinctive ways to connect: private “Napa to New York” dinners in Manhattan and a new seasonal offering, the “Olive Grove Lunch” in Napa Valley.
These are not your standard winery events. Think of them instead as invitations into the heart of Annulus, a place where stories are told, lamb shanks simmer, and Cabernet Sauvignon flows freely.
A Napa Table in Manhattan
For their Napa to New York dinners, Evnin and Wright open the doors of their own Manhattan residence, transforming it into an intimate dining salon for oenophiles. Guests gather around the table for multi-course menus that riff on Napa restaurant classics: braised lamb shank inspired by Farmstead, a Mongolian pork chop nodding to Mustards. Each dish arrives with a thoughtful pour: Sauvignon Blanc, the Napa Valley Cabernet, and the two single-vineyard bottlings that have made Annulus a name to watch: Beckstoffer Las Piedras and Vine Hill Ranch.
At $550 per person for groups of eight, the evenings are hosted either by the proprietors themselves or Annulus’ Director of Hospitality, Caitlin O’Connell, alongside a private chef. The setting is deliberately personal and is an alternative to performative restaurant-based winery dinners. Here, the ambience leans toward convivial conversation and shared discovery. “Our goal is to create spaces where people can gather, connect, and feel the spirit of Napa Valley,” says Evnin. “Whether that’s at Wheeler Farms in St. Helena or at our home in New York.”
Lunch Among the Olive Trees
For those who prefer their wine experiences rooted in the California soil, Annulus’ new Olive Grove Lunch offers just that. Hosted at the green-certified Wheeler Farms estate in St. Helena, the two-hour lunch is set beneath a canopy of olive trees, a rustic but elegant stage for Napa Valley’s seasonal bounty. Designed for groups of six or more and priced at $185 per person, the family-style meal draws on Wheeler Farms’ culinary gardens and orchards, as well as neighboring farms, prepared by Chef Tom Harder. Expect heirloom tomatoes still warm from the sun, fresh herbs gathered just steps away, and locally raised meats, all served alongside the estate’s Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignons.
The idea is less about formal service and more about a warm, convivial table: laughter, clinking glasses, and the hum of conversation drifting through the vineyard air. It’s the type of gathering Napa Valley does best, but with the Annulus touch, rooted in authenticity and family tradition.
The Family Behind the Wines
Though new to winemaking, Evnin and Wright are hardly newcomers to Napa. Longtime residents of Rutherford, they built successful careers outside the wine world—Evnin as a life sciences venture capitalist, Wright as an attorney and medical researcher—before giving in to the Valley’s inevitable call. Together with their daughters, Alexandra and Elena, they launched Annulus as a true family endeavor. Alexandra has worked harvests in Napa and Sonoma and spent time in Manhattan’s wine retail scene, while Elena serves as the winery’s Creative Director, and designed the winery’s visual identity.
“As our daughters grew up and both showed interest in wine and the industry, we couldn’t think of anything better than working collaboratively as a family,” says Wright. “To work together and have our daughters play an integral part in an effort that we will expand and mature for years to come has been a dream come true.”
A Shared Circle
The name Annulus, Latin for “ring,” reflects the cycle of the vineyard year, from dormancy to bud break to harvest. It also captures the winery’s philosophy: wine as a circle of connection, gathering people together across tables, coasts, and generations. And the wines? Kinsman is known for his classic style and commitment to vineyard expression. Consulting oenologist Michel Rolland joined the team in 2023, lending his blending expertise. The result? Four bottlings that capture both elegance and power: a vibrant Sauvignon Blanc ($75), a balanced Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($175), and two vineyard-designate Cabernets ($250 each) from historic sites with pedigrees as deep as the Valley itself.
How to Experience Annulus
Whether you find yourself at a candlelit Manhattan table or under the olive trees in St. Helena, Annulus’ new hospitality offerings are more than meals. They’re windows into a way of life, one that values craft, community, and the simple joy of gathering over a bottle of extraordinary wine.
Reservations for Napa to New York dinners and the Olive Grove Lunch are available directly through Annulus (annuluscellars.com). With just a handful of opportunities each season, these experiences are designed for those who seek something rare—not simply to drink great wine, but to share in the story behind it.
Photos courtesy of Annulus
