Napa Valley winemaker Paula Kornell marked a major milestone this March with the release of her inaugural Brut Rosé — a celebratory moment not only for her brand’s portfolio, but for its survival following a year of upheaval.
The release followed the unexpected collapse of Kornell’s distribution and sales partnership with Vintage Wine Estates (VWE), a major wine conglomerate that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2024. The abrupt filing disrupted operations for more than 30 wine and spirits labels across California, Oregon, and Washington, leaving many producers scrambling to regain control of their businesses.
While larger, established wineries such as B.R. Cohn, Kunde, and Viansa in Sonoma County quickly found new buyers, Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine — a boutique brand producing fewer than 20,000 cases annually — was left in limbo.
“It really was a shock to the whole wine community that it fell apart,” Kornell said, reflecting on the bankruptcy. “Vintage bought so many brands, and then I don’t think they put the love and care that all the brands needed. It shows that consolidation is not always for the best.”
With deep industry experience, including a decade at Robert Mondavi Winery, Kornell drew upon her marketing and sales knowledge to navigate the sudden uncertainty. In November, she secured a new partnership with Mike and Jenny Farmer of Calistoga — longtime friends and her first customers when she launched her 2017 Blanc de Noir.
Mike Farmer, formerly president of commercial operations at Builders FirstSource, now serves on the board of directors for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Jenny Farmer, a former labor and delivery nurse of nearly two decades, is a board member of Hope Scarves, a nonprofit focused on metastatic breast cancer research and patient support.
Their connection with Kornell goes beyond business. All three share a passion for wine, dogs, and community involvement. Kornell, who has served on the boards of Napa Valley Vintners, Napa Humane, and Queen of the Valley Medical Center, jokingly refers to her St. Helena home as “Château Drool” in honor of her three dogs — a nod that resonated with the Farmers, who are also dog lovers.
With the Farmers’ backing, Kornell completed and released her fourth sparkling wine, the California Brut Rosé — signaling a turning point after a year of challenge and change.
The loss of the Vintage Wine Estates partnership held personal significance for Kornell. Her father, Hanns Kornell, a third-generation German winemaker and Holocaust survivor, immigrated to the United States in 1939 and later established the Hanns Kornell Champagne Cellars in Napa Valley. The historic estate was one of California’s pioneering sparkling wine producers, showcasing the Méthode Champenoise technique. Although the property was sold in 1992 to Frank Family Vineyards, the legacy of sparkling winemaking lived on through Paula.
Born in 1959, Kornell began working in the family business at the age of 10, selling orchard goods and peacock feathers at the tasting room. Her wine career eventually took her across the globe, including stints in hospitality and winemaking, before she founded Kornell Wine Company in 2014.
Though her professional path was disrupted by the bankruptcy, Kornell credits her new chapter with renewed purpose.
“Mike and Jenny are such great friends, and they were aware of all the trials and tribulations I was going through,” she said. “They kept saying they wanted to help, and sure enough, now they are my new partners. So, I am really very, very lucky.”
With the release of her Brut Rosé and the support of new collaborators, Kornell’s boutique sparkling wine label is poised for a fresh chapter — one grounded in resilience, friendship, and heritage.
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