PRESS
23 Black-Owned Wineries Worth Supporting Right Now - News Week Feature
Paula J Harrell's longstanding appreciation for wine led her to develop a winery of her own in Sonoma, California. Although the winery only produces three varietals, it's worth noting that her limited production has worked in her favor. The company's rosé and Zinfandel are both incredible standouts, but Harrell's signature Riesling is an award-winning fan favorite. Bursting with notes of citrus and minerality, Harrell's 2019 Dry Creek Valley Riesling took home a gold award at the San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition last year.
Celebrating Black History: Paula Harrell, a trailblazer in the winemaking industry
Paula Harrell grew up in the Bay Area, one of five children. Born to an immigrant mother and a Tulsa, Oklahoma-born father, she learned the importance of hard work early on.rom her toddler to teen years Harrell was a performer — at one time performing with a famous group called Tony Orlando and Dawn. She even did some print modeling.While as an undergrad at UCLA, Harrell experienced wine for the first time during a study abroad program in Spain. “I kind of fell in love with wine culture before I fell in love with wine,” she said. That experience would ultimately lead her to becoming one of the first African American female winemakers and launching her own label, P. Harrell Wines. But there’s no vineyard. Harrell purchases grapes then uses a custom crushing facility to produce the product. It took years to get all the pieces in place.
12 Black Owned Rosé Wines to Try - Food & Wine Feature
Paula Harell's blend of Angelico and Syrah will take you straight to Italy thanks to her dynamic flavors and aromas of anise, orange zest, orange blossoms, strawberries, cranberries, and rhubarb, leaving a velvety mouth finish.
NEW COLLABORATION: BLACK SMOKE ZIN!
PAULA J. HARRELL, VINTNER & ADRIAN MILLER, AUTHOR PARTNER
[OAKLAND, CA] Paula J. Harrell, Vintner & Proprietor of P. Harrell Wines and Adrian Miller, James Beard Book Award Winner are proud to partner in the release a special edition wine titled Black Smoke Zin, to celebrate the release of Adrian’s latest book, Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue.
In Black Smoke, Miller chronicles how Black barbecuers, pitmasters, and restaurateurs helped develop this cornerstone of American foodways and how they are coming into their own today. Zinfandel is the ultimate barbecue pairing wine, which makes this collaboration even more exciting.
Diversity in Winemaking
How Northern California vintners are increasing diversity in the industry.
By Carey Sweet, FOR DIABLO MAGAZINE Apr 8, 2022
... East Bay resident Paula Harrell is one of the newer entrepreneurs, running her own small-production P. Harrell Wines label. She sources her grapes from partner vineyards in Sonoma County, produces her wines at a Sebastopol custom-crush facility, and hosts wine events around the country.
Raised in San Francisco by her immigrant mother from Panama and Oklahoma-born father, Harrell earned her MBA from San Francisco State University and discovered— even as she enjoys a successful real estate and mortgage finance career—a love for the art and science of winemaking. She launched her own label seven years ago and feels the industry is making progress while still needing larger representation...
NEW FEATURE
Paula J. Harrell is featured in the 2021-22 Covent & Stuart Hall Alumni Bulletin!
Paula is a proud Alumna of Convent (and celebrates her alma mater in our new sparkling wine Broadway Street).