Ron Fenolio
Ron Fenolio is the co-founder and sole owner of Veedercrest Vineyards and Winery, a winery that participated in the now-infamous 1976 Judgment of Paris, when California wines bested the French wines in a blind tasting organized by Stephen Spurrier. Ron is a fourth-generation winery and vineyard owner with family ties going back to Merlot and Pinot Grigio vineyards in Friuli, Italy, in the 1880s. The Veedercrest entry in the Judgment of Paris was the 1972 Sonoma Chardonnay from Sonoma Cutrer vineyards. Today Veedercrest produces award-winning Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Veedercrest was awarded Winery of the Year status in 2007 by the American Fine Wine Invitational Competition. For four years, Ron served the industry as Chair (now President Emeritus) of Family Winemakers of California, a 200-member trade association of family-owned wineries.
Paul Shakeshaft
After years of brokering bulk wine for major and minor wineries, I opened Appellation Trading Company with Charles Bartlett, a legend. We found that one question, “ What do you really need now?” defined our future. We knew how to blend, and we knew how to find great wines. By keeping our clients’ best sellers always in stock, we grew the business to 120,000 cases per year. All custom. In 2020, my share of ATC was bought out.
BUT… retailers and marketers always believe in offering new names with a value proposition. Napa Valley Cattle Company was an ATC brand that had a great past and needed new life. Our new teams expertise and production know-how keeps a promise of old Napa heritage and care for our world.
Ian Lawson, Winemaker
Ian grew up surrounded by his dad’s big Lodi, CA vineyards and has nearly as many harvests under his belt as birthdays. Besides small family brands, Lawsons was the source for super-premium brands needing custom blends of Syrah, Cabernet, Petite Syrah, and always Zinfandel. Top elite wines from Napa and Sonoma don’t magically appear. A massive treasury of harvests allows Ian and his team to always bring solid wines to the bottling lines.
An avid pilot, outdoorsman, and craftsman in many different areas, Ian leads the operations at Victor Vineyards with a rolled-up sleeve approach.
Along with Valley of the Moon and Carneros Creek, Ian brings energy and tradition to Napa Valley Cattle Company.