Vineyard 29 proprietor Chuck McMinn is well-known in Napa Valley for his dedication to not only the cult winery he co-owns with his wife, Anne, but also for his involvement in organizations striving for the betterment of his adopted community. Of course, before calling St. Helena home in 2000, McMinn first made his mark in Silicon Valley creating, financing, working in and advising startup high-technology companies. “Being involved in startups in Silicon Valley was really demanding. Work was always there,” he says. “Anne and I have really enjoyed moving to Napa Valley and shifting our focus to Vineyard 29, volunteering and nonprofits.”
In addition to the winery, McMinn is involved with several Napa Valley nonprofits, including the St. Helena Hospital Foundation, Napa Valley Vine Trail and NapaLearns (See “No Child Left Offline,” Jan. 2012).
How do you successfully juggle all your business and community activities?
Hire good people and get out of the way. All my current projects are about as much work as a Silicon Valley startup, so I’m used to the frenzy.
Do you write down your goals?
I am an inveterate list maker. It really helps me to get all those random thoughts out of my head and written down. I’ve used many different paper and computer solutions. My latest favorite is Todoist, which keeps multiple lists and syncs them across all my computers, phones and tablets.
Describe your favorite pair of shoes.
Not shoes. Sneakers. I run five miles every morning (on the treadmill) and go through about four pairs of shoes per year. Always Nikes. I miss the air cushion ones.
What do you consider your best quality?
I love change. I’ve found I have a high tolerance for uncertainty, so I don’t mind trying something new, buying the latest gadget or experimenting with a new way of doing things. It was a necessary trait while working in Silicon Valley.
Do you have a pet?
Both our sons had allergies, so we had no animals while they were growing up. Both my wife and I had dogs when we were young—collies for her, a beagle for me. We’re thinking about getting one of the new hypoallergenic breeds. Looking for thoughts on the best one….
What’s something that’s frustrated you in the recent past?
Just coming off the election and the first of several fiscal cliffs, it frustrates me that our public officials have lost the idea that they’re elected to lead us—not just respond to the latest polls. The win/lose mindset of both parties at the expense of the nation is so foreign to how businesses and nonprofits operate that I find myself yelling at the TV news most nights.
What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?
I’m way too analytical. I start on page one and go straight through; same with magazines. I also read the instruction manual first for anything I buy.
Who is your favorite singer or band?
Beatles for sure! I like that I can now get an all Beatles station on Pandora. “Let It Be” is a classic.
What personal trait of yours is most responsible for getting you where you are?
I can dig in to a complex situation with lots of moving parts, ask questions of the experts and come to conclusions that aren’t as obvious or easy to come by for others. It’s the biggest reason I’ve been successful in starting companies.
What was your first job?
I was 15 or so working for a farm owner in New Jersey (where I grew up). I earned $5 for four hours of chopping wood, digging holes, raking leaves….and I got an extra $0.35 for mileage because my dad drove one way. It lasted about eight months until I went to work for Friendly Ice Cream. I started washing dishes and ended up two years later as shift manager—and all the ice cream I wanted!
I try to laugh with others almost every day. It makes work more enjoyable.
What’s your most prized or sentimental possession?
Not most prized, but I just took delivery on a Tesla Model S all-electric sedan in October.
If you could be invisible for one day, what would you do?
Make a recording of what our politicians say behind closed doors and make it all public the next day. We could all use an education in their thought process.
