Primary Job Title Owner Primary Organization 
Bottega
Location St. Helena, California, United States Regions West Coast, Western US Gender Male
Investor Type Investor Stage
Website www.chiarellovineyards.com/winery/michael-chiar... LinkedIn View on LinkedIn X (Twitter) View on X
Michael Chiarello is an award-winning chef and owner of the critically acclaimed Bottega restaurant in Napa Valley,
who made his mark by combining the traditions of his Southern Italian roots with the distinctive hallmarks of the
Napa Valley lifestyle. From his earliest childhood memories – created around his mother’s California kitchen with his
extended Italian family – Michael Chiarello knew he wanted to be a chef. Decades later, Chiarello has accomplished his
dream, and much more.
In the time since he graduated from the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, he has garnered accolades and awards
as a chef, vintner, specialty food pioneer, philanthropist, author, and television host. Throughout his achievements,
Michael’s core values are always apparent: Showcasing seasonal, sustainable products, and supporting the artisan
purveyors who produce them while inspiring friends and family to gather around the table and create meaningful
memories of their own. Chiarello’s passion for the community created by food is freely shared with his fans, restaurant
guests, television viewers and wine loving friends alike.
Michael was named the Chef of the Year from Food & Wine Magazine in 1985, just three years after graduating from
the CIA. He later received the CIA’s Chef of the Year Award in 1995, and was again acknowledged by the CIA in
2011 with their Alumni of the Year award. His books have received awards and nominations from both IACP and the
James Beard Foundation. And his innovations with California olive oil in the mid-90’s earned his olive oil business,
Consorzio Flavored Oils, the Best Product Line Award at the International Fancy Food Show. After turning his love of
sustainable products to his own vineyards in 1999, he created Chiarello Family Vineyards, and his small-production
wines are consistently high-scoring and well-regarded. And since 2000, Chiarello has been the tastemaker behind the
NapaStyle retail line of artisanal foods, kitchen and home.
He has been on television for a decade as the host of his own shows on PBS, Food Network, Fine Living, and Cooking
Channel. His Emmy Award®-winning show Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello., began in 2003 and still airs
daily. In 2009, he appeared on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters, winning second place and over $25,000 for charity. He has
appeared numerous times as judge on Bravo’s Top Chef and Top Chef Masters. In Fall 2011, he appears on the Next
Iron Chef on Food Network. A popular celebrity guest chef, Chiarello appears on frequently on NBC’s The Today
Show, CBS’s The Early Show, Regis & Kelly, and The View.
Based in the Napa Valley, Michael lives among his vineyards with his wife and children.
