Each Wednesday, the Napa Valley Register’s Business Focus asks “10 Questions” of a local entrepreneur or businessperson. Readers are welcome to suggest business people to be profiled.

Jac Cole is known for his work as winemaker at Spring Mountain Vineyard, but two years ago he became known in a much different way.

“I was the fall guy for Conan O’Brien.”

In May 2007, Cole and the winery were featured on a segment of the television show “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” During the episode, O’Brien toured the vineyards wearing a smoking jacket while smoking a pipe, and drinking from a giant wine glass, among other antics.

What was it like meeting O’Brien?

“It was great,” Cole said. “He’s a really nice guy. Even with the camera off.”

People still comment on O’Brien’s appearance at Spring Mountain. 

“Those kinds of things are wonderful,” Cole said. “I wish we had a regular monthly gig with him.”

Which three people would you most like to have dinner with?

Groucho Marx, W. C. Fields, and Curly Howard (of the Three Stooges).

What job would you like to try/not try?  

Try: Ship captain.

Not try: Middle school teacher. Way too many hormones.

How did you get into this business?

I began making home brew in college (at UC Berkeley) and ran into home winemakers who encouraged me to give home winemaking a try. I was hooked.

What’s on your to-do list?

Write a book, sail across the Atlantic, and take my grandson to his first baseball game. I’d like to write something in terms of “Stand by Me” based on my childhood with the friends I had.

Whom do you most admire in the business world? 

Henry Ford.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?

How people decide what a good wine is.

What’s something people might be surprised to know about you? 

Jac (means) John August Cole. Only teachers in school called me John.

How has your business been affected by this recession? 

Profoundly. We make fairly high-ticket wine and even for people with money, it’s out of vogue to buy high-ticket wine these days. We expect it to come back when people relax and feel more confident. 

What’s the most significant project you’ve been involved with in your career?

Redesigning the Charles Krug production facility.

What other business person(s) would you like to see featured in “10 Questions?”

Eric Titus, Titus Vineyards.

Dr. Robert Hampton, DDS, oral surgeon and artist.

Ron Rosenbrand, vineyard manager, Spring Mountain Vineyard.

To suggest a candidate for “10 Questions” e-mail: jhuffman@napanews.com

For more from Jac Cole, go to www.napavalleyregister.com/business

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

Becoming recognized for the great wine our estate produces.

What was your childhood ambition? 

To be a park ranger.

If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be? 

Right where I am; what a lucky guy.

What is your favorite charity?

The public library.

What’s one thing Napa could do to help local business?

Continue to promote the local industry and keep Napa Valley green.

What’s your favorite gift to give?

A bottle of wine I made.

I can’t live without: Family and friends.

What was your first job?

Landscaping in Pinole. 

What’s the worst job you ever had?

Summer time job in a chemical factory in Richmond. That was horrible.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in your lifetime that you haven’t yet?

Learn to truly appreciate what I have.摇