Paul Vander Schalie

The Napa Valley has lost one of its most talented viticulturists this week. Paul Vander Schalie passed away July 3, 2008, from cancer. He was 58.

Paul began his career in vineyard management nearly 30 years ago, after graduating from UC Davis and landing his first job as a vineyard supervisor with Beringer Vineyards. After a few years with Beringer he went to work for Peter Michael, developing their vineyards in Knights Valley. He then worked for Charles Krug for 14 years, managing 12 different varietals of grapes. He spent the last nine years of his life working for Burgess Cellars, a winery very dear to his heart. Paul has overseen the development of hundreds of acres of grapes in the Napa Valley and has managed countless more. Paul will forever be remembered as one of the most dedicated and hard-working farmers in the Napa Valley. He was also an avid cyclist and an outdoorsman, but his first love was the grapes; nobody loved their job more than Paul. His passion for grape-growing came through in the exceptional quality of wine he helped produce.

Paul will be missed by his daughter, Summer; and sisters, Sylvia and Virginia, as well as countless friends in the Napa Valley.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, July 13 at 3 p.m., at the Tucker Farm Center. A reception will immediately follow with hors d’oeuvres and wine from the grapes he put his heart and soul into growing. The family requests that friends come prepared to tell their favorite story about Paul.