St. Helena, Calif.—Mike McGrath has retired from Conn Creek and sister winery Villa Mt. Eden after 35 years of working at the two estates. McGrath graduated from University of California, Davis in 1978 with a degree in fermentation science and worked at Grgich Hills Estate, William Hill Estate and Charles Krug before joining Villa Mt. Eden in 1982. He joined Conn Creek in 1986 and was promoted to head winemaker in 2007. During his time at the winery, McGrath’s wines earned five spots in Wine Spectator magazine’s “Top 100” wines. McGrath will work in tandem with his replacement, new head winemaker Elizabeth DeLouise-Gant, until mid August. DeLouise-Gant previously was the assistant winemaker at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and prior to that she was assistant winemaker at Beaulieu Vineyard.