Bellec joins Culinary Advisors and James Beard Award-Winning Chefs Charlie Palmer and Nate Appleman at Bricoleur
WINDSOR, California (January 13, 2022) – Bricoleur Vineyards is excited to announce that internationally-acclaimed Chef Thomas Bellec is joining the winery as In-House Executive Chef. Last summer James Beard Award-winning Chefs Charlie Palmer and Nate Appleman became Culinary Advisors to Bricoleur, and Chef Bellec’s appointment enhances that flourishing partnership.
“We are so excited to have Chef Bellec lead our in-house culinary team,” said Bricoleur Vineyards’ co-founder Mark Hanson. “With his vast international experience, he’s the perfect person to mentor our culinary team and partner with our talented Culinary Advisors, Chefs Charlie Palmer and Nate Appleman.”
Bricoleur Vineyards opened in the Sonoma County town of Windsor, just south of Healdsburg, two years ago and in a short time has already earned recognition from San Francisco Bay Area press as the region’s “Best New Emerging Winery” and “Most Romantic Winery.” Bricoleur is known for their truly unique wine and food pairings. Last fall Bricoleur Vineyards introduced their new six-course Rooted wine & food pairing, a robust array of special events, and a dinner series called “The Seasons,” that showcases the estate’s bountiful, sustainably-farmed culinary garden.
“We’re delighted to work with Chef Bellec,” said Bricoleur Vineyards’ Culinary Advisor, Chef Charlie Palmer. “Bricoleur Vineyards stands out because of their exceptional wine & food pairings and the creative possibilities on that estate are endless. Collaborating with Chef Bellec will enhance our partnership and further elevate the spectacular offerings at Bricoleur.”
Chef Bellec comes to Bricoleur Vineyards after a sensational 18-year career with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. An accomplished chef with a passion for developing and coaching teams, Chef Bellec has been at the forefront of creative culinary offerings at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Hawaii, Beverly Hills, Toronto, Boston, and Uruguay. He was raised in the coastal town of Concarneau in Brittany, France where cooking and hospitality run in his family. His grandparents owned a prominent bakery, and his father was a professional fisherman, a passion that Chef Bellec embraces, too. He grew up fishing and hunting for mussels, clams and periwinkles to cook with his family, and apprenticed at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Concarneau before joining Four Seasons. In 2015, Chef Bellec was deeply honored to be named a Master Chef of France by Maîtres Cuisiniers de France, an organization that was established in 1951 to bring together chefs, farmers and artisans who best support and promote French culinary art.
“I grew up in a family with a passion for cooking and entertaining, and the Hanson Family shares that same passion. It’s a joy to work with them,” said Chef Bellec. “The in-house culinary team is doing a fantastic job, and the collaboration with Chefs Palmer and Appleman is thriving. I’m looking forward to building upon that strong foundation.”
Chef Bellec’s experience at Four Seasons has prepared him well for leading large events and dinners and Bricoleur Vineyards.
“He organized a special, intimate dinner in a Hawaiian volcano and other big events for Four Seasons,” said Bricoleur Co-Founder & Vice President of Marketing, Sarah Hanson Citron. “He’s so creative. I can’t wait to see the unique experiences he’ll create on our estate. We’re all very excited to welcome Chef Bellec.”
Bricoleur Vineyards is open Thursday – Monday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. by appointment only and reservations can be made by visiting www.bricoleurvineyards.com or by calling 707-857-5700. Bricoleur Vineyards is close to the Santa Rosa airport, which accommodates both commercial and private planes, and it’s only an hour north of San Francisco. Bricoleur Vineyards is located at 7394 Starr Road in Windsor, California and can be found on Instagram @bricoleurvineyards.
About Bricoleur Vineyards
Bricoleur Vineyards, which launched its first vintage in 2017 and opened its tasting room in 2020, is tucked away in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley – just south of Healdsburg. Founded by the Hanson family, Bricoleur Vineyards can be found at the end of a winding road in the charming, bucolic town of Windsor, only an hour north of San Francisco – and very close to the Santa Rosa airport. The distinctive name, “Bricoleur,” is French for one who starts building something with no clear plan, adding bits here and there, cobbling together a whole while flying by the seat of their pants.
Bricoleur is known for their truly unique wine and food pairings, created by their Culinary Advisors, James Beard Award-winning Chefs Charlie Palmer and Nate Appleman. Their six-course Rooted tasting perfectly pairs Bricoleur’s elegant wines with inventive small plates, and changes every two months to express the seasonality of the estate’s sustainably-farmed culinary garden. Chefs Palmer & Appleman also draw upon Bricoleur’s garden for their robust dinner series, The Seasons. The Hanson Family is happiest when they bring friends together over exceptional wine and food, so whether they’re enjoying a casual family-style dinner, or Rosé and bocce in the estate’s rose garden, Bricoleur’s guests make lasting memories.
Bricoleur Vineyards produces two families of critically-acclaimed, award-winning wines – “Bricoleur” and “Flying by the Seat of Our Pants.” The wines are crafted by veteran Winemaker Cary Gott and Assistant Winemaker Tom Pierson. In addition to Bricoleur Vineyards, the Hanson family also owns Kick Ranch Vineyard in Sonoma County’s Fountaingrove District AVA.
The Hanson family’s roots run deep in Sonoma County. Mark Hanson was born in Santa Rosa, and Beth Wall Hanson’s great grandfather, Pietro Carlo Rossi, was the original oenologist for Sonoma County’s historic Italian Swiss Colony. Rossi revolutionized California winemaking in the 19th century and under his direction, the Italian Swiss Colony became one of America’s leading wineries. Philanthropy is important to the Hanson family, and serving their community goes hand-in-hand with their warm hospitality.
Bricoleur Vineyards is open Thursday – Monday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. by appointment only and reservations can be made by visiting www.bricoleurvineyards.com or by calling 707-857-5700. Bricoleur Vineyards is located at 7394 Starr Road in Windsor, California and can be found on Instagram @bricoleurvineyards.
