Paula Kornell elected vintners’ president

Paula Kornell, general manager of Oakville Ranch Winery, was elected president of the board of directors of the Napa Valley Vintners.

 Growing up at her family's Hanns Kornell Cellars, Kornell saw the Napa Valley wine industry evolve from fewer than 25 wineries in her childhood. The trade association now serves nearly 350 member wineries in the Napa Valley.

 

 “Forty-five years ago, my father, Hanns Kornell was president of this great group,” Kornell said.  “At that point, they were more of an eating and drinking group. They had a lot of fun and it was about getting together, sharing stories. But they knew even then, the importance and the strength of working together to promote not only their individual brands but to promote this little-known place, Napa Valley.”

Kornell will preside over the 65th anniversary year of the NVV, founded in 1944.

 “Sixty-five years ago a small group of vintners started getting together as an organized group,” Kornell noted. “They started meeting in a small restaurant on Main Street in St Helena.”