Vineyard & Winery
Paradigm handcrafts world-class wines using estate-grown fruit from the heart of Napa Valley.
Paradigm Winery is located on 55 acres in the heart of Oakville between the Mayacamas Mountains and the Yountville hills. The vineyard rests atop an alluvial fan, an ancient stream bed that deposited volcanic rock, quartz-feldspar, and deep-sea sediments from the Sierra Arc. The well-draining, gravelly soil common to West Oakville offers ideal conditions for Bordeaux varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Warm days, cool nights, and the breeze and morning fog from the San Pablo Bay allow for even and slow ripening in the vineyard.
When Ren and Marilyn first purchased the 55-acre property that would become Paradigm, it was planted with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, and Riesling. They slowly began the process of replanting the vineyard with the Bordeaux varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Zinfandel. After 16 years of growing grapes and selling them to other wineries, Ren and Marilyn, with the help of head winemaker Heidi Barrett, created the inaugural vintage of Paradigm Winery. Since its inception, Paradigm Winery has been vertically integrated, only making wine from the fruit grown on the property.
In 2021, Paradigm became officially certified organic, and in 2023 the vineyard earned accreditation for fish-friendly farming. The family prides itself on farming sustainably with the intention of preserving the land for future generations.
Paradigm’s vineyard is managed by Fernando Diaz, who first began working for Ren and Marilyn in 1990. He helped plant many of the vines that still flourish on the property today. After working under former vineyard manager John Silva for 12 years, Fernando received a promotion to vineyard manager in 2005. His tireless efforts in the vineyard show in the excellent quality of Paradigm’s wines.
Winemaking
Paradigm’s winemaking philosophy centers around expressing the well-tended Oakville estate vineyard. Their hands-on approach to wine, first set about by winemaker Heidi Barrett, builds upon traditional practices. After 35 years, Heidi stepped down as head winemaker in 2024. In 2025, the winery promoted Mark Fasi from assistant to head winemaker with the intention of preserving Heidi’s vision and style. Alongside cellar-master Pedro Martinez, who has worked for Paradigm Winery for 35 years, Mark maintains Paradigm’s hands-on approach to crafting world-class wines.
Paradigm takes pride in its low-impact, classical style of winemaking. A people-powered operation, the team completes all vine and cellar work by hand. Our oak program reflects a nuanced and elegant expression of Napa-grown Bordeaux varieties. Through its minimal intervention approach to winemaking, Paradigm showcases the quality of the fruit farmed in the vineyard.
