Betty O’Shaughnessy spent her first 20 married years with her husband in Minnesota, raising three daughters. She spent those years as a mother, corporate spouse, volunteer and homemaker. She also attended the University of Minnesota where she earned a degree in mathematics and education, graduating first in her class.

As her children grew and left home, Betty established herself as an entrepreneur, establishing a cooking school and developing real estate.  The pinnacle of her real estate investment career was the purchase and development of the historic YMCA in the heart of the city of Minneapolis. Her efforts included placing that building on the National Historic Register, restoring the exterior, demolishing the interior, and creating 121 apartments and 5000 square feet of office space.

In 1990, Betty moved to a vineyard property in Oakville, California. Over the next few years, additional vineyards on Howell Mountain and Mt. Veeder were added. In 2000, she added a cave, grapes crushed into wine, and a design for a winery.  The winery was completed in time for the harvest of 2003. Today, the winery is located at 1,800 feet elevation on Howell Mountain, truly land that she describes as “God’s Country.”

In 2002, O’Shaughnessy began serving as Chair of the Board of Directors and continues as a director, today.