rating B-

standout daughter of a Napa sparkling pioneer

about Paula Kornell is central to the development of Napa Valley’s wines, working for Robert Mondavi and overseeing Premiere Napa Valley in the early 1990s as well as other Napa bodies. Her father, Hanns, was from Germany with a grape-growing/winemaking background, having to leave after spending time at Dachau. He found himself in Napa, and purchased the Larkmead site in 1958 and made the first traditional method sparkling wine in Napa (under Hanns Kornell Champagne Cellars). Paula started her own label in 2014, and concentrated on sparkling wine, the first vintage made in 2017. The wines are good, approachable examples of California bubbles, without raising the bar.

wines tasted

California Brut ($22)

Sourced from various vineyards, certified sustainable. 80% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir, 6.5g/l dosage. A fruity, friendly, drinkable sparkling wine. (Paula Kornell insists on labelling her wines méthode champenoise because her father did; I feel we should have moved on from that.)

Napa Valley Blanc de Noirs (vintage) ($50)

70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay—California producers really don’t care if a Blanc de Noirs is all black grapes. 7.5g/l dosage. A bit more serious with more of a lees-based texture, but still fruity and generous.

website www.paulakornell.com

email paula@kornell.net

phone +1 877 289 9463

address