About Progeny
Founded in 2006 by Paul and Betty Woolls, Progeny Winery presents a love story of lives and vines rooting together.
A shared passion for fine wine, cuisine and the magical Napa Valley Mount Veeder area bound Paul and Betty together in marriage and winemaking. Their 32-acre Woolls Ranch Vineyard surrounding the Progeny winery includes several Bordeaux and Rhône varieties.
Paul Woolls and Betty Woolls Proprietors
Progeny Winery is the love story of Paul Woolls and Betty Woolls rooting their lives and passion for wine together.
Paul began life in the Midwest, where he was born almost on the campus of Indiana University. He later moved to New Mexico, and now sheepishly admits developing the beginnings of a passion for wine there‐ albeit on brands that today no serious vigneron would admit consuming. From those beginnings, Paul found in college that starving for a month would allow for one great meal at the only French restaurant nearby. Law school, followed by his law practice, allowed the drive to learn about wine to thrive. That interest in wine culminated in a fortuitous wine tasting where he met Betty.
Betty hails from Minnesota, having spent her childhood growing up in a rural farming community. After college she raised a family while building a career in real estate investment and development in Minneapolis. Her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for food and wine fueled the fires that transitioned her from owner and teacher of a cooking school in Minneapolis, to creating a winery in Napa Valley.
In Napa, Betty fell in love with the beauty of the land, the vineyards and the climate. She landed in Oakville with a parcel of land, including vineyards and a home site. Betty reconnected with her deep-rooted appreciation of the soil and the bounties it brings. Over the next few years, additional vineyards, construction of a winery and the release of her first vintage of wine followed. While in Los Angeles conducting a tasting of her wines in 2003, she met Paul. A friendship developed rapidly, followed by dating. During their early years together, Paul and Betty traveled together to promote her wines, solidifying the idea to Paul that he would enjoy developing a new wine venture.
A marriage, a special vineyard on Mount Veeder and many years later, Paul and Betty now share a goal of making the best possible wine from the exceptional vineyards they steward together at Progeny Winery. Likewise, they are most fortunate to enjoy a family life provided by numerous children (all girls) and even more grandchildren (mostly boys). They continue life’s joyous ride as companions, partners and winemaking buddies.
