When she was elected president of Napa Valley Vintners’ board of directors in January, Oakville Ranch Vineyards GM Paula Kornell became the first-ever daughter of a former NVV president to ascend to the post. Her father, Hanns Kornell, founder and winemaker of Kornell Champagne Cellars, held the position in 1964. “At that point, they were more of an eating and drinking group,” she said in her inaugural address, “but they knew even then the importance and strength of working together to promote not only their individual brands but to promote this little-known place, Napa Valley.”
A Napa Valley native and longtime NVV member, Kornell’s future plans include “continu[ing] to be the cheerleader for Oakville Ranch [which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year] and the Napa Valley Vintners.” Go team!
Did you ever consider a career besides wine?
As a child, I always thought I could be a champagne maker and veterinarian during the day and a ballet dancer in the evening.
What’s your favorite holiday of the year? Why?
Thanksgiving! It’s all about getting together and enjoying each other and, of course, all of the food and wine.
What’s the most interesting thing in your wardrobe?
My mother was an opera singer (her maiden name was Marilouise Rossini) who sang quite a bit with the San Francisco Symphony. Because she didn’t have a lot of money, she and my grandmother would peruse the floors of I. Magnin and City of Paris for great fashion ideas and had people at specialty fabric stores who were on the lookout for incredible materials that would show well in stage lighting. My grandmother made all of her dresses so she could wear them on a regular basis also. I’m now the proud owner of most of them—very classic designs with incredible handiwork and beautiful fabrics. I feel like Jackie O or Audrey Hepburn when I’m wearing them.
Who was your favorite musician in high school?
Hands down: Rod Stewart
What sound drives you crazy?
Snapping gum
Growing up, did you have any family rules that seemed unfair to you?
Women in my family wore dresses or skirts, except if they were riding horses. Thank God I had horses!
Who’s the most famous person you’ve ever met?
Mikhail Gorbachev and his daughter came to dinner when I was running Carmenet in Sonoma. I found him very engaging and sweet—and he loves California wine.
When are you most relaxed?
When I’m on a beach chair in the sun with a great book.
What’s your favorite kind of candy?
I’m pretty plebian when it comes to chocolate. I love See’s nuts and chews.
What spells adventure for you?
I have a great group of wonderful vintner women friends—Karen Cakebread, Nancy Duckhorn, Janice Mondavi and Katie Murphy among them—and we’ve done some incredible treks in the world. We started as a group called “Lust for Life,” which raised money for a breast cancer trust fund here in Napa Valley. The group is ever-changing, and over the last 12 years, we’ve trekked in Nepal, summitted Mt. Kilimanjaro, and gone on treks in the Karkash mountains in Turkey, the Cordillera Blanca in Peru and Mongolia. Last November, we trekked and rafted in Northern India. The last two trips were purely vacation, but each trek for the trust raised close to $100,000—and that’s with no single check being for more than $1,500 (to be on the T-shirt) to $60 (to get a T shirt).
What big challenge have you taken on recently?
Taking over leadership of Napa Valley Vintners is a great challenge. I hope, in this period of economic unrest, that NVV members can make use of all we have to offer and understand the importance of unity. I also hope to be a part of the groundbreaking for our new NVV home. [Note: NVV has plans to update the historic Jackse Winery in St. Helena, vacant since 1951, into a LEED-certified administration office.]
