A Collaboration for the Senses

Written By: Marlene Osteen | Issue: Winter 2025 | Photograph By: Mary Gilian

Winemaker and High Country Wine & Provisions owner Guy Davis was among the many in Highlands who, in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact across western North Carolina, began working tirelessly to bring relief to affected communities.

The result of those efforts was a unique collaboration with artist Leah Grace Craig, combining the art of winemaking and visual creativity to support Asheville’s rebuilding efforts.

Among the reserves at his acclaimed Sonoma County Winery, Davis Family Vineyards, was a 2019 Grenache. Davis had initially bottled the 2019 Grenache to celebrate his winery’s 25th anniversary.

With no label yet applied, the wine’s destiny shifted when Davis and his son, Cooper, saw an opportunity to turn it into a vehicle for aid.

The idea was simple yet powerful: create a label that celebrated local connections and resonated with the community’s resilience, then direct 100 percent of the wine’s profits to relief efforts in Asheville.

Grenache is typically a blending grape in Davis’ portfolio, but when it shines on its own, it delivers bright fruit aromatics, texture, and depth – a fitting metaphor for the role this wine plays in supporting the broader community effort.

Davis explains, “Just as Grenache is often a supporting player in a blend, we see this wine as a way to support and strengthen the larger community, helping it get back on its feet.”

To bring the label to life, Davis reached out to Leah Grace Craig, a Highlands native whose artistic talent has been showcased in Atlanta galleries (and Laurel’s October 2024 Cover Artist).

Craig, the daughter of Kay and Thomas Craig, owners of the Ugly Dog Pub and High Dive, grew up in Highlands’ close-knit community. She began her art education at Virginia Commonwealth University, later attending the University of Kent in Canterbury, UK.

Leah Grace Craig and Guy Davis

However, the disruptions of the Covid pandemic forced her to pivot, eventually enrolling at the Savannah College of Art & Design, where she is currently a student.

For this project, Craig had just 10 days to produce what would become a defining work of art. The result, Divine Dionysus, is a reimagined, feminine interpretation of the Greek god of wine.

Blending mythology with the spirit of Western North Carolina, the painting features a central figure holding a bottle of Davis Family Wine in one hand and a cardinal – the state bird of North Carolina – in the other. Surrounding her are local flora, including dogwoods and ferns, and wildlife like raccoons, foxes, and deer. The vibrant blues and pinks evoke serenity and resilience, perfectly capturing the rebuilding spirit of the community.

“This was deeply personal for me,” Craig shared. “I have family in Asheville, and seeing the devastation made me want to contribute in a meaningful way.”

By Thanksgiving, the 2019 Grenache, complete with its striking new label, was ready for sale at High Country Wine & Provisions.

Priced at $55 a bottle, the wine quickly resonated with the community. Davis ensured that 100 percent of the profits were directed to grassroots organizations aiding Asheville’s recovery. His contributions have supported food banks, clean water initiatives, and volunteer groups clearing debris and rebuilding infrastructure.

“We wanted the funds to go directly to those making a tangible impact,” Davis explained. “This was about helping where it matters most.”

The response to the wine has been overwhelming, with customers requesting it for inclusion in wine club shipments to broaden its reach.

For Craig, the project has been a deeply fulfilling experience. “It was an honor to use my art to support such an important cause,” she shared. “Projects like this remind us how creativity and community can come together to make a real difference.”