Winemaker: Chris Dearden, GM & Winemaker

Chris Dearden is a third generation Californian with agrarian roots in the San Joaquin Valley. He began his studies at UC Davis in Enology and later wrote his own major in Winery Operations and Management. Internships in the Napa Valley at Schramsberg and RMS Distillery led him to his first winemaking job out of school at William Hill Winery.

He then became winemaker at a small Carneros winery, Mont St. John, which specialized in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and following this, Chris became winemaker for Heublein's Fine Wine Group, which included Christian Brothers, Beaulieu and Inglenook. While honing his skills as a winemaker, he made the decision to learn more about business and returned to the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley to obtain an MBA.

During this period, he worked for Seguin Moreau, the world famous cooperage owned by Remy-Cointreau. His winemaking skills were enhanced greatly by working with the greatest wineries and winemakers in the world, helping them produce world class wines with premium barrels.

Now, after planting the vineyards, refurbishing the winery and establishing the brand at Benessere, the hard work is beginning to pay off, with a track record of small quantity, high quality Italian-inspired wines. “The best is yet to come,” says Dearden.

Annual Production: 7,000 cases

Futures
Buoni Amici means “good friends” in Italian, and if you haven’t already joined, Benessere invites you to become a member of our wine club and extended family of good friends. Just a few of the Buoni Amici Wine Club benefits include:

Grape Varieties Planted

• Aglianico
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Muscat Canelli
• Pinot Gris / Grigio
• Pinot Noir
• Sagrantino
• Sangiovese
• Syrah / Shiraz
• Zinfandel
• Zinfandel