Paul Dolan

About Paul Dolan

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 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 will.”

Deeply dedicated to Mendocino County, Paul is determined to bring greater recognition to its farmers, winemakers and wines. This community of creative people demonstrates an abiding commitment to natural beauty, clean air, anti-GMO regulation and healthy farming. “When Mendocino farmers get together, we talk about organics and biodynamics because we strongly believe these practices are good for the land and for wine quality,” says Paul. “There is an energy here that stimulates a creative approach to business.”

While Paul’s history in this county goes back decades, his family’s involvement in the wine industry extends back four generations through the Rossi and Concannon families. Growing up in Oakland, Paul spent a month each summer in Asti, Sonoma County, where his grandfather – Edmund Rossi – ran Italian Swiss Colony. “During the rest of the year, Granddad visited us in Oakland every weekend,” remembers Paul. “At our family table you could always count on great food and wine, and stories of the old days.”

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, with regularly glowing 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 Mendocino Wine Company, 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 want to have fun, reaching out to new audiences with each wine carrying a fresh look and message.” Paul and MWC winemaker Bob Swain work with a constant focus on quality, seeking to match each wine’s flavor profile and style with the exciting new packaging and branding.