Woman smiles with a brown-and-white dog in a vineyard under a bright blue sky

KARINA

GALLEGOS

CO-FOUNDER + CO-WINEMAKER

Raised in Southern California's culturally rich San Gabriel Valley and shaped by her Mexican and Guatemalan heritage, Karina is passionate about creating a more inclusive and welcoming wine culture.


“Wine has become too exclusive,

and it shouldn’t be.”


After studying culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu, she spent more than fifteen years in kitchens and dining rooms before trading restaurant floors for cellar floors and never looking back. Since entering the wine industry in 2019, she has worked at wineries of all sizes, from boutique producers to large commercial operations, immersing herself in every facet of the winemaking process.


Through Sidedoor Cellars, she strives to share food-friendly wines that celebrate approachability and balance, inspired by the belief that wine is meant to complement the foods and traditions that bring people together.

Smiling person peeks through sunlit green grapevines in a vineyard

LIZZ

GRAINGER

CO-FOUNDER + CO-WINEMAKER

Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Lizz made her way to California after graduating from Tufts University. While producing film and television in Los Angeles for nearly a decade, weekends spent exploring California's various wine regions sparked a dream that eventually led her to trade Hollywood for the vineyards.


Upon moving to Napa Valley, she gained hands-on experience in both the cellar and the lab while completing the UC Davis Winemaking Certificate Program, all of which has informed her vision to craft nuanced wines with character to be enjoyed by all.


"I embrace winemaking as a collaboration between art and science."


Beyond the winery, Lizz is deeply involved in the Calistoga community, where she is known around town as the local swim coach and former cheesemonger — a reflection of her love for connecting people through wine, food, and shared experiences.

Man sitting on a bench in front of a large industrial machine outdoors under a blue sky

DENNIS

WEIDNER

UNOFFICIAL

CHIEF ENCOURAGEMENT OFFICER

Dennis may be retired, but nobody has told Dennis. Originally from Eden, New York, Dennis has called Calistoga home for more than four decades and spent much of that time running his own mobile wine filtration company, earning him local legend status along the way.


At Sidedoor Cellars, Dennis serves as our unofficial head of morale and biggest cheerleader. He's the first to offer encouragement, the first to volunteer when something heavy needs moving, and usually the first to remind us not to take ourselves too seriously.


When he's not helping his neighbors, you'll likely find him in the garden tending to what can only be described as an impressive tomato empire. Between his endless supply of tomatoes and an equally endless supply of stories, there's never a dull moment when Dennis is around.