“I’M SO EXCITED TO PRESENT SOMETHING INTRINSICALLY LINKED TO THE LEGACY OF MY PARENTS”
-paula kornell
meet paula
Raised in the Napa Valley in the wine industry, having lived and breathed this premier wine region all her life, Paula Kornell has long understood what it takes to make fine wines from a sense of place. And as one of California’s
leading women in wine, she has also always understood the importance of enjoying wine at the table with family and friends.
Paula’s familial legacy and love of bringing people together are what led her
to launch Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine with the release of a California Brut in 2020 and Napa Valley Blanc de Noirs in 2019, both of which have earned high critical scores and reviews. Paula was ahead of her time in sensing the
American consumer’s thirst for high-quality bubbles; sparkling wine remains one of the top growth categories in wine.
Paula’s father, Hanns Kornell, helped pioneer Méthode Champenoise winemaking in the Napa Valley and her wines honor that history. Paula is
now the fourth generation of her family to become a sparkling wine producer.
With 30-plus years of experience as a sales and marketing consultant and
community leader in the wine industry as principal of Kornell Wine Company, Paula has consulted with esteemed wine brands and appellations throughout Napa and Sonoma counties.
Deeply connected to her community, Paula has chaired and co-chaired the Napa Valley Wine Auction many times and is an active supporter of many
charities and causes. She was 2009 president of the board of directors for the Napa Valley Vintners, filling a position her father held 45 years earlier.
Paula creates camaraderie through hospitality. It’s in her genes. Her home is open and easy going, with cut flowers from the garden, homemade jam in the pantry, and rescue dogs and chickens all around. Each glass she pours her guests is a celebration of the everyday beauty and bounty of Napa Valley.