Paul Dolan, Mendocino Wine Co.

Paul Dolan believes that business leaders can help make a better world, and he sees Mendocino County, California, as fertile ground to grow this vision. During his 27 years at Fetzer Vineyards, 12 as president, he led a transformation that put the company at the forefront of organic viticulture and sustainable business. With the purchase of Parducci winery and the creation of Mendocino Wine Company (MWC), a partnership of the Dolan and Thornhill families, the mantle of leadership in sustainable winegrowing shifted from Fetzer to MWC, while remaining cradled in the open, creative atmosphere of Mendocino County. “We want to make a difference in this community,” says Paul, “and we are.”

As an undergraduate at Santa Clara University, Paul studied business and finance. Shortly before he graduated, he wrote a paper on the wine industry (advised by his winemaking uncle, Ed Rossi), and Paul’s family legacy came alive. In 1975 he enrolled in the Enology program at California State University, Fresno ultimately receiving a Masters Degree with honors. In 1977 Paul joined forces with the Fetzer family as their first non-family winemaker. They grew the business to two million cases a year, regularly earning acclaim and awards for their wines. After the Fetzers sold their family business, Paul became president of the company under its new ownership.

Today, at Parducci and MWC, he continues to break new ground. “We are clear about what we want,” says Paul, “ - - an environmentally and socially conscious winery making great wines from Mendocino. We are farming from the standpoint of respect for the land and the natural environment.” Paul and Parducci winemaker Bob Swain work with a constant focus on quality and pure expression of Mendocino terroir.

Paul’s greatest passion, however, is winegrowing at his family-owned Dark Horse Ranch, east of the Russian River in the foothills north of Hopland. He and sons Heath and Jason chose this place because of its diverse natural beauty, dramatic terrain and deep red soils. It has been a family project and a labor of love to convert 70 acres of grapes into a certified Biodynamic® vineyard. Paul’s goal is to make Parducci and MWC a model for the wine business. In turn, he is determined to develop the wine industry as a model for all agriculture, worldwide. “We are seeing a shift, an awakening, where people are taking a strong stand on the food and wine they consume and its impact on the environment. The greatest challenge in the world today is global warming. All of us, individuals and businesses, must do all we can to meet this challenge.” This is the message he delivers as an industry leader, winemaker, farmer and father. Paul knows that sustainability is an economic asset and a competitive advantage, as well as an imperative for healthy life on this planet. He is spreading the word – for the good of business, the community and the environment.