Greenway Distillers, Inc.

Crispin Cain, President

For more than 20 years Crispin has worked in Mendocino County's best wineries. During the years he spent as assistant to Hubert Germain-Robin, at the distillery, quality has always been the focus. In his spare time he has always managed to make ales, meads, and liqueurs at home.

Crispin's Bio

Crispin Cain was born December 20, 1962, in Santa Maria, California. His parents are educators and journalists, with too many masters degrees among them to count.

Before entering his career in wine and spirits, Crispin spent two years as a VISTA volunteer in the Peace Corps, as well as two years with Cooper Labratories in their Plasma Kinetics Division assembling power supplies for metal vapor lasers. While working for Cooper he took a second job, at the now defunct Villa Armando Winery, Pleasanton, California. This was in 1984.

By 1987 Crispin had moved to Mendocino County California. While attending the local community college to study accounting and business law he met Mr. Bryan Zell. Fortunately for Crispin, Bryan befriended him, they have much in common, Bryan was employed at Hidden Cellars Winery, Crispin was able to land his first seasonal job during crush! Thank you Bryan Zell!!!!

Crush led to cellar work, which led to other small wineries, Duncan Peak, Parsons Creek, Jepson, to name a few. The call came in 1989, from Alambic, Inc, asking if he would come to interview with Hubert Germain-Robin at the distillery. Crispin was elated and jumped at the chance to learn such a craft.The work was demanding, quality always the focus. He was assistant to the Brandy Master.

In 1991 Crispin was employed at the Gabrielli Winery untill 1995. He was assistant winemaker and assistant to the Treasurer of the winery with a part time office upstairs.

In 1997 Crispin went back to work at the distillery where now they employed two assistants. In the year 2000 Crispin seriously injured his back while working at the distillery. This forced him to rearrange his life a bit. The accident happened in February, by August the idea for Crispin's Rose had come to light. He began to make prototypes.

Crispin thought of making the Crispin's Rose commercially, but how, he is disabled? He appealed to his friends for help and they came through! Starting with Tamar and Tim. Together the three incorporated Greenway Distillers in 2005. Crispin is President and Brandy Master. Their first release is scheduled for September 15, 2007, about 95 cases of Crispin's Rose Liqueuer.