“My life in Oakville is fascinating and never dull. The quest for an ever-better bottle of wine starts in the vineyard and the quest for the next great clone of Cabernet Sauvignon or a newly developed rootstock that will perform magic in our soil is never ending. I trade tastes, notes, and experiences with grape growers and winemakers from all over the world; as well as visit other vineyards around the globe.” – Ren Harris
Paradigm Winery produces hand-crafted wines from the Harris Family Vineyards
in the heart of the Oakville appellation in Napa Valley.

Paradigm Winery is owned and managed by Ren and Marilyn Harris, two winegrowers with extraordinarily deep roots in Napa Valley. Marilyn's grandparents immigrated from Italy to Napa Valley in 1890, while Ren's family came to California in 1769. Marilyn and Ren moved to Napa Valley in the 1960's and settled into their home just east of where Paradigm sits today. Through a career in vineyard real estate, Ren learned much about the diverse growing regions in Napa Valley. In 1976, when they decided to purchase vineyards of their own, Oakville was the clear choice. Paradigm Winery was founded several years later and began producing wine with the 1991 vintage.

Ren and Marilyn hired a young and talented winemaker, Heidi Barrett, who has been with Paradigm since the beginning. They all felt a shared passion for making great wine, and a determination to preserve the small, family-owned style of winery that Napa Valley was built on. With an incredibly loyal team, Paradigm Winery maintains a hands-on approach to all winemaking and vineyard operations, nothing is outsourced. Every bottle you uncork was grown, crushed, fermented, barrel aged, bottled and stored on site. Ren and Marilyn have been tireless advocates for the Oakville appellation, eco-friendly farming, and environmental stewardship.

Ren & Marilyn


Ren and Marilyn Harris were married on February 6, 1965 at St. Joan of Arc Church in Yountville. Marilyn’s family had been farming in Napa Valley since the 1890’s when her paternal grandparents arrived from the Liguria region of Italy. While most of Ren’s family came from Limerick County in Ireland during the late 1800’s, his paternal grandfather was a descendant of the rancheros who founded the Presidio of San Diego in 1769 when Spain ruled what is now California.

Marilyn taught 4th grade in San Francisco and Ren worked for a small construction company when they were first married. A modest profit from a home they remodeled enabled them to put a downpayment on a prune orchard in the Oakville area of Napa Valley in the late 1960’s. Eventually they planted grapes in the former orchard and in 1975 traded it into what today is Paradigm.

Paradigm consists of four contiguous parcels totaling fifty five acres. Paradigm is a selfcontained winery estate; including fifty acres of vineyard, the winery, two homes, a warehouse, a barn and an acre of olive trees.

The land destined to become Paradigm was planted to Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir and White Riesling when Ren and Marilyn first purchased the property. In short order Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel replaced the original vines and Cabernet Franc along with Petit Verdot were added a bit later.

Ren & Marilyn


Ren and Marilyn Harris were married on February 6, 1965 at St. Joan of Arc Church in Yountville. Marilyn’s family had been farming in Napa Valley since the 1890’s when her paternal grandparents arrived from the Liguria region of Italy. While most of Ren’s family came from Limerick County in Ireland during the late 1800’s, his paternal grandfather was a descendant of the rancheros who founded the Presidio of San Diego in 1769 when Spain ruled what is now California.

Marilyn taught 4th grade in San Francisco and Ren worked for a small construction company when they were first married. A modest profit from a home they remodeled enabled them to put a downpayment on a prune orchard in the Oakville area of Napa Valley in the late 1960’s. Eventually they planted grapes in the former orchard and in 1975 traded it into what today is Paradigm.

Paradigm consists of four contiguous parcels totaling fifty five acres. Paradigm is a selfcontained winery estate; including fifty acres of vineyard, the winery, two homes, a warehouse, a barn and an acre of olive trees.

The land destined to become Paradigm was planted to Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir and White Riesling when Ren and Marilyn first purchased the property. In short order Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel replaced the original vines and Cabernet Franc along with Petit Verdot were added a bit later.

Ren's Letters



Since 1964, Vineyard owner Ren Harris has been walking among the Paradigm vines watching growing seasons turn into decades of quality winemaking. As he reflects on the vintages and varietals produced in the 70+ acre property, Ren shares his thoughts and stories.

READ REN'S LETTERS

Tradition


Our hands touch the vines while we are tending to them. Our hands touch the vines when we are pruning. Our hands touch the grapes while we harvest. Our hands touch the wine in all of it’s phases. We do not employ mechanical harvesters or pruners. No ocular berry sizing and sorting, no mechanical or automated pumpover devices. No computer tank monitoring systems.

We pick by hand, we sort our fruit by hand in the field and at the conveyer, we pumpover by hand, we do not run to the computer first thing in the morning during harvest…we meticulously go from tank top to tank top and smell each tank.

Tradition


Our hands touch the vines while we are tending to them. Our hands touch the vines when we are pruning. Our hands touch the grapes while we harvest. Our hands touch the wine in all of it’s phases. We do not employ mechanical harvesters or pruners. No ocular berry sizing and sorting, no mechanical or automated pumpover devices. No computer tank monitoring systems.

We pick by hand, we sort our fruit by hand in the field and at the conveyer, we pumpover by hand, we do not run to the computer first thing in the morning during harvest…we meticulously go from tank top to tank top and smell each tank.

The Paradigm Family



 
Marilyn and Ren have been blessed over the years with the helping hands and hearts of many wonderful and talented people. Things have changed from the 1960’s when Ren was driving tractors, pruning vines, fighting the frosts we used to have and all other aspects of growing grapes in Napa Valley.
Life was simpler, while not as much fun, when Marilyn and Ren sold all their grapes to various wineries in Napa Valley; but in 1990 the bank agreed to lend the Harris’ enough money to start a winery. Jon Lail was engaged to design the winery and Dick Peterson (Heidi Barrett’s father) was on deck to equip the facility with all the tools necessary to make our wine.
 


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Heidi Barrett
Winemaker
Heidi has been winemaker at Paradigm since 1991. A Napa Valley native and a graduate of U. C. Davis, Heidi is the winemaker for some of Napa Valley's most highly-regarded wineries. Heidi's philosophy in making wines for Paradigm is simple: she feels that she is working with an extraordinary vineyard site that has been farmed impeccably for years. She lets the fruit from this vineyard express its quality and unique terroir with minimal intervention. Heidi and her husband, Bo, have two daughters.
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Kate Walker
National Sales

Originally from Chicago (GO CUBBIES!!!), Kate moved to California to immerse herself in the wonders of Wine Country, and she never looked back. Little did she know that what was meant to be a 5-year educational excursion would turn into an adventure spanning two decades. Driven by her passion for food and wine, Kate has accumulated 20 years’ experience in the wine business, but it’s the great outdoors that keeps her in California. She enjoys exploring and traveling with her adventurous dogs, Wrigley and Georgie, who are always happiest running through the vineyards and greeting guests at the winery. When Kate isn’t traveling for the winery, you can find her gardening at home or exploring the mountains.
Peter Zellman
Administrative Director

Originally from Mendocino County, Peter brings not only a strong passion of making wine more approachable for everyone but also a deep set love of Star Wars and mezcal.
Mary Ann
Director of Sales and Hospitality

Mary Ann grew up in the mountains of North Carolina, and graduated with a degree in Agriculture Business from the University of Georgia. Following her passion for food and wine she moved to Napa in 2012, and came on board in 2014 and now acts as our Director of Sales and Hospitality.
Mark Fasi
General Manager
Mark Fasi joined our team in 2010 as our Director of Production.
Well versed in winemaking and vineyard management, Mark’s interest in making wines places importance on the vineyard and all of the subtleties given by the terroir. He has a wealth of experience in organic farming, sustainability, and non-organic wine grape growing. Mark's winemaking approach has always been a non-invasive hands-on method.
Mark harbors a strong love for the mountains and the natural world that often leads him deep into those quiet places. He has been known to travel to the Himalaya and India with profound interest in eastern philosophies.
Fernando Diaz
Vineyard Manager

Fernando was born in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico. He began working for Ren Harris in 1994, helping to plant many vines that are still producing at Paradigm today.
An attentive student under previous Vineyard Manager, John Silva, for twelve years, Fernando now acts as shepard of the Paradigm vines, working hard to keep the vineyards here at Paradigm producing the highest quality fruit as possible.
Fernando lives on the ranch with his wife, Hilda, and their two children.
The Original Crew

Ren, Marilyn, & Heidi
Greg Harris
Greg Harris
Hospitality

Greg was raised in San Francisco and followed his brother, Ren Harris, to the Napa Valley in 1967 at age 15. After working several harvests at local wineries he joined Ren and his brothers in a Vineyard management company. In 2009 Ren decided to open Paradigm's tasting room on weekends and brought Greg in to manage.

When not working you can find Greg in the mountains camping and fly fishing for trout.
pedromartinez
Pedro Martinez
Cellar Master

Soy mexicano del estado de Oaxaca de una familia de campesinos y panaderos. Crecí sembrando maíz y vendiendo pan a los 18 años. Me vine al valle de Napa y empecé a trabajar en los campos de uvas por unos meces en una compañía. En 1990 llegué a mi segunda casa donde encontré unos patrones maravillosos, muchos amigos y compañeros de trabajo, y donde soy muy feliz. Asiendo con mucho amor mi trabajo y espero estar muchos años más en Paradigm.
rubysolano2
Ruby Solano
Hospitality

Ruby was born and raised just up the road in St. Helena, CA. We first met Ruby during her days making coffee and hot dogs at Kelly’s gas station in Yountville. She has always had a warm smile and friendly personality and knows all the good local spots to wine and dine. We are thrilled to have her as part of the hospitality and direct sales team at Paradigm!
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