On Learning the Family Business with Cat Chen
While most ten-year-olds prefer playgrounds or iPads, ten-year-old Cat Chen, a first-generation Taiwanese American, spent hours strolling through the Paso Robles vineyard owned by her father, dreaming of the day she’d be able to work on growing the family business.
After years of successfully scaling the corporate ladder, Cat—former VP of Brand Marketing at Amber Interiors—decided to return to her roots—or rather, her vines—to fulfill her childhood dreams. Her wine label, Dulan, which started as a side project, quickly turned into a full-time affair, with her Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Chenin Blanc being carried at some of our favorite specialty stores and restaurants across LA. We sat down with Cat, an entrepreneurial force to be reckoned with, at her home, a 1920s bungalow in LA—complete with lemon trees!—and talked style, wine, and the trials and tribulations of wearing all the hats.
Tell us a bit about your experience so far in the wine industry. What is something no one told you about entering this world that you wish you’d known?
I’m currently tackling two jobs: running our vineyard in Paso Robles, California, and producing/selling Dulan Wine. I’ve been learning how to run a vineyard through osmosis since I was 10 years old, but, let me tell you—there’s still a lot to learn. It’s all about the farming, which, at times, can be completely out of my control (thank you Mother Nature,) and you have to roll with the punches, adapt quickly, and problem-solve on the fly.
Dulan, my wine, is produced from the grapes in our vineyard. It’s pure hustle that needs to come from passion. Both the vineyard and the wine require consistent tending to and patience, but I feel so lucky that I get to do this.
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced starting your own business? What are you most proud of?
While it’s a juggle to wear every hat, it’s also the most rewarding part. I try to divide my time each day between departments—one day I focus on marketing, another on sales, another on accounting, and another on deliveries. I’m still getting into a daily flow, and there’s a lot of trial and error in each department. I shouldn’t know how to do accounting or how to build a website, but it’s really incredible how much you can teach yourself with financial restrictions. I imagine it to be invaluable once you get to a place where you can outsource your weaknesses and I can’t wait to get there one day. But in the meantime, I’m genuinely enjoying doing everything. I’m learning so much and wouldn’t change anything about this part of the process.
From top: Cat wears the Celano Dress; She also wears the Kavala Sweater and Solene Pant
How does being the proprietor of Dulan differ from your past career endeavors?
I’ve taken bits and pieces from every job I’ve had (corporate tech PR, hospitably PR, interior design branding and marketing, retail marketing) and applied them to this. While all the jobs I’ve had are completely different, I’m learning that you can find a through-line between industries and skills. At the end of the day, running and managing a company is about communication, respect, self-discipline, and organization.
Being an entrepreneur is hard work—who are the people that you look to for guidance, support, and inspiration?
I thank my lucky stars for the role models in my life—my friends, partner, and former colleagues. I’m constantly learning from others, asking a lot of questions along the way, and revisiting moments in the past that didn’t quite work out so I can re-work and do better.
"Both the vineyard and the wine require consistent tending to and patience, but I feel so lucky that I get to do this."
- cat chen
Cat wears the Kelela Top and Hilaire Pant
What’s your favorite way to unwind?
Preparing and cooking is my meditation. It’s soothing. It’s calming. I get into a zen-like state—one where I’ve and have had some of my best epiphanies. But the most enjoyable part to me is sharing—watching someone take that first bite. There’s nothing that brings me more joy than nourishing my friends and family with a meal.
How would you describe your personal style in three words? What kinds of pieces do you gravitate towards? Has your style changed over the years?
I’m a bit of a chameleon when it comes to style — it changes with my mood and the situation. It can go anywhere from a little edgy and cool to polished and sophisticated, it just depends on the day. My style is always evolving, and I hope it continues to do so.
Tell us about one of the pieces in your closet that’s most important to you.
I have a pair of my mama’s black suede boots with a pointy toe and silver buckle on the side. I channel her energy whenever I wear them—it keeps her spirit alive.
From top: Cat wears the Lois Tank; She also wears the Celano Dress
"Preparing and cooking is my meditation. I get into a zen-like state—one where I’ve had some of my best epiphanies."
- cat chen
Cat wears the Kelela Top, Hilaire Pant, and Cenobia Trench (coming soon!)
