Antoniues Gregory didn’t follow a traditional path into winemaking. He grew up in Detroit, worked his way up from sales associate to cellar master at an urban winery in downtown Detroit, and spent years building hands-on knowledge of the craft before he ever set foot in Napa Valley.
Interested in growing his skills and knowledge, Antoniues came to Napa for harvest in 2023 and 2024, and found a new trajectory in life. “The experience I had here—the camaraderie, the connections—I knew that I had to stay,” he says. “I just enrolled in school and told myself, I’ll figure it out, I’ll make something happen.”
Now 35 and enrolled in Napa Valley College’s Viticulture & Winery Technology program, Antoniues is working toward an associate degree in viticulture and enology with a clear vision for what comes next.
Finding His Footing in Napa
Antoniues has been living on campus at River Trail Village, Napa Valley College’s new student housing option, which has helped him stay close to both his coursework and the broader campus community. He’s also received support from several other scholarship programs, including a housing scholarship he discovered through the college’s website—which is also how he found Napa Valley Community Foundation’s El Futuro Educational Scholarship.
Working part-time while pursuing his degree, Antoniues shares that the scholarship was a genuine relief.
“It is a burden off my back,” he says. “This is helping me achieve the goal of not having to worry about the financial aspect. I’m happy that I can alleviate some of the stress of not having to pay so much out of pocket for school. I’m grateful for the scholarship.”
After completing his degree at Napa Valley College, he plans to transfer to Cal Poly, with a target start date of January 2028. Once he graduates, Antoniues is planning to take a gap year back in Napa before heading home to Michigan with credentials in hand, ready to build something.
A Winemaker With a Mission
Antoniues’s connection to Michigan wine runs deep. Before coming to Napa, he spent years at a Detroit urban winery, eventually running the cellar. He’s a strong believer that Michigan’s growing regions like Traverse City and the Lake Michigan Shore are on the verge of something significant.
“I really feel like we’re on the next wave,” he says. “I want to source grapes from both of those regions, bring them back to Detroit, create wine there, and distribute it from there.”
His vision goes beyond business. Antoniues is acutely aware that Black winemakers remain rare in the industry—in Michigan and in Napa alike—and he sees his success as connected to something larger.
“I just really want to be somebody in the forefront, somebody that’s taking charge and showing that we can operate in these spaces and thrive in these spaces. I have gotten a lot of support here from everybody in Napa Valley, and I really want to be one of those people that are achieving their goals and being a staple in the community.”
About the El Futuro Educational Scholarship
The El Futuro Educational Scholarship is made possible in partnership with the Moulds Family and the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation.
“Finding and encouraging students like Antoniues Gregory, whose enthusiasm for purpose and strong desire to uplift the wine community, brings us great joy,” says Betsy Moulds, from Moulds Family Vineyard.
It supports Napa County residents pursuing an associate degree in viticulture and/or enology at Napa Valley College or Santa Rosa Junior College, with a focus on students who demonstrate drive and ambition in their community, school, or professional life. Recipients may receive up to $5,000 per year for as many as three years while completing their degree.