IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY
Hawley Winery is run by John Hawley and his two sons, Paul and Austin. John has been a winemaker since the 1970’s, and has made the wines for some of California’s biggest names; Clos Du Bois and Kendall Jackson. Paul and Austin joined their father full-time after college and have been learning the craft of winemaking, not to mention the art of forklift driving, since 2005.
Creativity runs strong in the family as Dana Hawley has been a professional artist since 1980. Taking after their mom, Austin crafts furniture from reclaimed wood and Paul is an avid photographer and filmmaker.
JOHN HAWLEY
FOUNDER
John Hawley has been a commercial winemaker since 1980, including ten years as winemaker for Clos du Bois and six years as head winemaker for Kendall-Jackson. He graduated with a degree in enology and viticulture from UC Davis in 1980. In 1996 he decided to get his hands dirty again and started making his own wines under the "Hawley" label. He ran a one-man show for about a decade before his sons joined the business full-time in 2005. In 2015 John stepped back from production to devote more time to falconry.
DANA HAWLEY
ARTIST
A well known local artist, Dana Hawley has been a professional artist since 1980. She lives and paints in Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley; no shortage of inspiration as vineyards have become her main subject matter.
Dana's work can be viewed on her website (www.danahawley.com) or in person at the Hawley Tasting Room and Gallery in downtown Healdsburg.
Dana has a coherent style both in plein air location work as well as large format studio paintings. Classically trained as a biological realist illustrator (UC Davis), her style has evolved to what is best described as Impressionistic, with use of thick gestural paint and brush work. Her landscape paintings are impressionistic interpretations of rural Northern California. Dana also works is mixed media and encaustic wax.
"Throughout the vineyards are lakes, rivers, orchards, farms and the impressive and stately Redwoods that I paint regularly. I can say with experience that sustaining a lifetime of painting evolves from a foundation of drawing, discipline and love."
AUSTIN HAWLEY
WINEMAKER
Growing up in the wine country, Austin has been studying California wines for some time. In 2005 he traveled to Australia and New Zealand to research their wines and style. His dad’s winemaking talent must have rubbed off; in 2009, Austin and his brother released their first vintage as winemakers to a "Best of Class" award for Sauvignon Blanc. Austin has been studying winemaking at UC Davis extension and took over winemaking duties from his dad in 2015.
Having graduated from the University of California Santa Cruz in 2006, Austin's education in biological sciences and outgoing nature are a welcome addition to Hawley Winery. When he is not working in the cellar or out in the vineyard; Austin runs a small workshop and crafts furniture out of used wine barrels Wine Barrel Workshop.
PAUL HAWLEY
GM
Growing up in the wine country, Paul was exposed to wine and winemaking since he was small. As a young kid, his dad would take him around the Clos du Bois cellar and let him taste the freshly pressed grape juice. John recalls Paul's unique ability to pick the reserve lots as his favorites.
Paul graduated from University of California, Santa Cruz, in 2003 with a BA in Film Production, where he met his future wife, Meghan. He co-wrote and co-directed a feature film called "Corked". It is a mockumentary about the Sonoma County wine industry, which was released in 2009 and boasts successful theatrical and festival screenings. Film remains a passion, and Paul continues to pursue film and photography projects.
In the year following college graduation, Paul spent a year traveling New Zealand and Austrailia and worked the 2004 vintage in a winery which specialized in Sauvignon Blanc. Paul has been working full-time at Hawley Winery since 2005, concentrating on taking over some of the marketing aspects of the business, and completed a certificate program in small business administration.
In 2013, Paul and his cousin, Remy Martin, opened Fogbelt Brewing Company in Santa Rosa. They serve a selection of flagship and rotating seasonal craft brews with a menu of elevated pub favorites in from their taproom.