i. Biography
In 2026, the estate kitchen at Auteur Wines in Sonoma County, California is being led by Craig Wilmer, whose Bay Area background shows up in a practical read on season, produce, and restraint. The work sits inside wine-country expectations, where ingredients and plate have to stay in step; Wilmer’s approach is grounded in local sourcing, but it stays attentive to balance and a controlled finish.
The Path
Training at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park gave Craig Wilmer the technical base that underpins his later work. From there, an Executive Chef post at Farmhouse Inn in Sonoma County, California tied him more closely to the region’s ingredients and the pace of its kitchens. Bay Area upbringing, formal study in Hyde Park, and Sonoma County experience now meet in his estate role at Auteur Wines, where precision and adaptability matter as much as the landscape around the table.
The Work Today
At Auteur Wines, Craig Wilmer works as Executive Estate Chef, a position that asks for both oversight and invention. In 2026, the named signature dish is Caramelized Cream Pancakes, built around a preference for richness that does not sit heavy and for ingredients that stay legible on the plate. Wilmer’s own words keep the point specific: “The genesis came from amazing local black futsu squash that we felt we had to highlight.” He added, “At the same time, we wanted the dish to feel rich but light.” A third line clarifies the brief: “First, it was inspired by my desire to get away from starch and offer lightness within richness.” Read together, those statements show a chef working through contrast—texture against softness, abundance against lift, comfort against clarity.
Signature
Craig’s signature dishes include Cabbage potage and Caramelized Cream Pancakes. The pairing gives a useful read on range: one dish points to the measured depth expected of a potage, while the other relies on a lighter, more composed structure. Both suggest a kitchen language that values texture alongside flavor, and control alongside comfort.
In Their Words “First, it was inspired by my desire to get away from starch and offer lightness within richness.” “The genesis came from amazing local black futsu squash that we felt we had to highlight.”
Acclaim
In 2026, the public record around Wilmer is tied to Auteur Wines and to Caramelized Cream Pancakes. The sequence is straightforward: Bay Area roots, training at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, executive-chef work at Farmhouse Inn in Sonoma County, California, and then an estate-chef role at Auteur Wines in the same region. That path reads as place-based, technically disciplined, and increasingly precise in its expression.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Craig
What is Craig Wilmer's current role?
As of 2026, Craig Wilmer is Executive Estate Chef.
Where did Craig Wilmer train or study?
Craig Wilmer trained at Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park.
