Owner profile As a devoted oenophile, Henry Cornell, below, with his wife, Vanessa, has been producing wine from his California vineyards since 2013. has been an avid wine drinker no matter how tight the circumstances. When he was growing up, wine was always on the dinner table, and during college, while his buddies were chugging beers, Cornell would be sipping cheap vino. Nearly 20 years ago, Cornell and his wife, Vanessa, purchased 200 acres of rugged, mountain-top land in the Mayacamas Mountain Range on the Sonoma County side near the well-known vineyards of Fisher, Pride, and Philip Togni. In the past two decades, they have developed a Certified Organic estate with 20 acres of Bordeaux varietals planted to vine, built a solid team to manage, care for and grow the brand, and officially released four vintages, which have all received notable praise from well-known critics, including high scores from Antonio Galloni of Vinous and James Suckling. Karen MacNeil, author of “The Wine Bible” and a regular contributor for “Decanter” recently named Cornell Vineyards one of the top 20 collectible California Cabernets, and has written that the 2015 vintage is “reminiscent of a young Chateau Margaux.” “I’ve always loved the sense of community and camaraderie that wine creates, so I’d long had the idea of having my own vineyard. But,” he adds “it’s a really tough business and requires reservoirs of patience and stamina. You can’t speed up Mother Nature. For me, it is a business based on passion.” Today, Cornell Vineyards produces one estate Cabernet Sauvignon blend that is truly expressive of the property’s dynamic terroir. The viticulture and winemaking is overseen by veteran winemakers, Françoise Peschon, the former winemaker at Araujo Estate and consulting winemaker at Accendo and Vine Hill Ranch, and Elizabeth Tangney, who previously worked with winemaker Aaron Pott. “As the team finishes our sixth vintage in the cellar, and prepares for the next growing season in the vineyard, we have intimate knowledge of this land and we’re really getting to know the intricacies of the various vineyard blocks,” Cornell explains. “The team has developed a personal relationship with each individual vine as they farm the site by hand year-round, and that makes all the difference.” To further underscore this commitment, the entire crew lives on the estate in housing provided by the Cornells. The Cornells love how wine connects people of different cultures, and firmly believe their vineyard is a place where both the care of the land and employees should go handin-hand. Inspired by the property, Vanessa Cornell launched an artist-in-residence program to present the beauty and diversity of the land through different lenses. She also instituted the development of a culinary garden to enhance the beneficial ecosystem at the estate, which currently includes bees, goats, and chickens—all of which play an integral role in the vineyards. “I am very grateful to be in a position to choose what I do,” he enthuses. “My work is my art, and my family is everything,” As he says, “Whether it’s creating investments or making wine, it’s a world that requires a high degree of creativity. Conventional playbooks no longer apply. You need to approach issues with solutions, as merely being a critic doesn’t move the community forward.” cornellvineyards.com; cornellcapllc.com ”My mother did not define success in material terms, but in those of family and community.” JIMMY HAYES, OLAF BECKMANN 30 NetJets
