Cecil Park of INNOVATUS Wines

Cecil Park and INNOVATUS Wines, Challenging the Status Quo
December 8, 2024

​“Wine. Redefined. Every wine tells a story. Embrace the opportunity to share yours.” greets visitors to the Winefornia website homepage. In that vein, perhaps the story of a wine begins with the vision of the winemaker. The story of Cecil Park, the first Korean-American female winemaker and viticulturist in Napa Valley, and her vision, is rooted in the big picture, where each facet adds to the brilliance of the whole. From the importance of natural farming and soil health to innovation in the winemaking process, she continually pushes the envelope, breaking down barriers, personal and professional, to produce excellent wine and enable others to follow in her footsteps. Now, Park is plowing her considerable expertise into her own ultra-premium brand, INNOVATUS, and offering inspiration to a more diverse generation of winemakers to follow their dreams.

Park came to wine by accident. After graduating in Korea as a Biotech Engineer and working for Kraft Foods Inc, she moved to San Francisco to get her MBA, hoping to further her education and add to her credentials. It was there, in the heart of California wine country, that she tasted wine for the first time. Smitten, she decided to learn everything she could about wine. Although familiar with the fermentation process through Korean food, such as kimchi and soy sauce, wine was so intoxicatingly different, with its fragrance, flavors and alcohol, that Park changed her life path, pursuing the road of winemaker. She started out in 2007 as a winery lab intern at Napa Wine Co., a facility where multiple producers can make wine without vineyards or a lot of money. Voraciously observing and studying everything wine, from the vineyard to the cellar, Park worked hard, learning from the other winemakers.  She began making private label wine for clients and special events under her own company, Winefornia, on a global scale, including a roster of corporate clients, hotels and golf tournaments such as the LPGA and PGA. At one point, she realized she needed to deepen her knowledge of winemaking and viticulture, and attended UC Davis’s Department of Viticulture and Enology. Post-graduation, she expanded her business, overseeing 80 vineyard sites in Napa and Sonoma counties, in addition to consulting.

As you can tell, Park is a powerhouse, renowned in Napa for her scientific precision blended with artistic winemaking. She launched INNOVATUS in 2014, putting her vision and passion into action, challenging the status quo of conventional winemaking, while accruing accolades along the way. “Innovatus” is Latin for renewal, and Park chose this name to reflect the spirit of renewal, among the vineyards each Spring and how immigrants bring their entrepreneurial aspirations and fresh perspective to the region’s wines.  She views Napa Valley as the perfect vessel, combining its patchwork canvas of vineyard sites and microclimates to create elevated vinous expressions. And mixing it up along the way, creating “outside the box” blends, such as her INNOVATUS Cuvée, a blend of Pinot Noir, Syrah and Cabernet Franc that defies the “old guard” traditional Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend. 

A few months ago, Cecil Park took time out of her very busy schedule to share her story and wines with the LA Wine Writers, over a three-course luncheon at AOC Brentwood. Six wines were poured, examples of how her professional journey has merged with her current philosophy, blending science and art to produce distinctive and elegant wines, while leveraging her marketing expertise.

Starting with a Sparkling Brut Rosé from her Winefornia label, Park calls her Napa Valley “Lineage Vintage” a celebration, bottled in 2022 on her 15th anniversary of winemaking. This delicate sparkler represents Park’s personal story in a bottle, a blend of Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc rosé and Cabernet Sauvignon rosé wines from 2007, the very first year that she made wine. Park explains the significance of the label, the background features roots, demonstrating that we are all connected, and beautifully living together, her mission statement.

With the first course, a Watermelon, Tomato, Mint, Lime and Ricotta Salata salad, two white wines were served. The INNOVATUS Viognier Napa Valley 2023 was a winner, a clear favorite among the wine writers.  Vibrant with a creamy mouthfeel, and described as sensuous, it is fragrant with star jasmine, guava, white peach and citrus blossom aromas, rich in stone fruit flavors with a hint of vanilla and salted caramel, textured from neutral oak aging on the lees. The INNOVATUS California Chardonnay 2020 is crisp and refreshing, aged in 20% new and 80% neutral oak, aromas of green apple and lemon zest lead to flavors of Meyer lemon and pear, with a long, lingering finish highlighted by mineral notes.

Second course, two red wines accompanied the Westholme Wagyu Beef Brisket, Cornbread Pudding, Cherry Tomato and Black Olive, the brisket was spectacular, even more so with the wine. The INNOVATUS Cabernet Franc Napa Valley 2021, a very small production of juicy fruit with a savory mouthfeel, complex and layered with blackberry, plum and red cherry fruit, while notes of chocolate, cola, toast, bay leaf and white pepper intertwine on a long and layered finish. The INNOVATUS Zinfandel Sonoma Valley 2021 is fabulous, made from Statton Vineyard’s 86-year-old Zinfandel vines, full-bodied and rich with red cherry and blackberry fruit, followed by currant and vanilla highlights.  A round mouthfeel and smooth tannins unfold on a very long finish.

Finally, the Cheese Course was served alongside the INNOVATUS Sparkling Rosé 2021, 86% Cabernet Franc and 14% Viognier, its bright acidity wraps around aromas of apple, fig, citrus and floral rose notes, elegant and with good body.  This wine is only available in 375ml half bottle size.

Park continues to innovate on the viticulture and winemaking fronts. Drawing upon her Korean heritage and understanding of fermentation, Park is experimenting with a Korean natural farming technique, brewing a fertilizer for the vineyards, part of her organic and sustainable ecosphere. And she’s working on a plan to create a vineyard on Korea’s Jeju Island with Napa’s grape varieties, called The Jeju Vine Nursery Project, and hopefully making world-class wine there as well, with a little help from people like herself.

Cecil Park’s story is inspiring and her passion for wine, infectious!  She’s a ground-breaking force of nature, blazing new trails for Napa Valley wine and opening the door for many others as the embodiment of The American Dream.

*** INNOVATUS wines can be tasted at The Caves at Soda Canyon in Napa Valley, and can be purchased online at innovatuswine.com