Description
Morris Katz was the former president of Paul Masson Vineyards and a longtime chairman and committee member of the Wine Institute. Born in New York City in 1923, he served in France during World War II and returned in 1946 to work for the newly incorporated Fromm & Sichel, a sales and distribution firm for the Christian Brothers. Following the separation of Paul Masson Vineyards from Fromm & Sichel in 1955, Katz moved to California and worked as a secretary for the vineyards, later serving as president from 1983 to 1986. In this interview, Katz discusses his early work with Picker-Linz and Fromm & Sichel, operations and issues at Paul Masson Vineyards, and his experience as a Jewish person in the liquor industry. This interview is part of a group of interviews documenting the California wine industry.