Chef Thomas Bellec becomes Bricoleur Vineyards’ Culinary Director
WINDSOR, California (December 5, 2023) – Mark Hanson, Co-Founder & CEO of Bricoleur Vineyards, the home of Wine Country’s Perfect Pairings, is pleased to announce several promotions among the estate’s esteemed culinary team. Chef Todd Knoll has been promoted to Executive Chef and Chef Rebeca Robinson has been promoted to Senior Sous Chef. Chef Thomas Bellec becomes Bricoleur Vineyards’ Culinary Director.
After cooking professionally at The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, Chef Todd Knoll came to Sonoma in 2003 where he served as Executive Chef at Jordan Vineyard & Winery for more than 18 years. A pioneer of Sonoma’s farm-to-table ethos, he developed numerous successful programs, award-winning culinary products, and local partnerships during his tenure at Jordan. Chef Knoll spends most of his free time in pursuit of the bounty and beauty of Sonoma – fishing, foraging, exploring, and photographing all that the area has to offer. Chef Knoll and Chef Bellec both grew up in coastal towns – Chef Bellec in France and Chef Knoll in Hawaii. They share a love for the coast and draw inspiration from it when they can. Chef Knoll also works hand-in-hand with Bricoleur Vineyards’ Garden Manager, Michael de Paolo, to plant seasonal ingredients that flourish in the estate’s sustainably farmed culinary gardens.
“Sonoma has a deep history in its farms and gardens, and I like to think that we can carry on in the spirit of horticulturist Luther Burbank here,” said Chef Knoll. “It’s hard to find something that Mikey can’t make thrive in Bricoleur soil.”
Bricoleur Vineyards recently won Slow Food International’s Snail of Approval for growing good, clean, and fair food. The gardens’ bounty and additional locally sourced artisan ingredients are featured in Bricoleur Vineyards’ Perfect Pairings: the six-course Rooted pairing, three-course Soaring pairing, and Atelier Bricoleur – all created in partnership with Bricoleur Vineyards’ winemakers, and crafted with the chefs’ “wine first” philosophy.
“A perfect pairing elevates both wine and food, so we work very closely with the winemakers. My goal is to highlight what the team finds to be most special about each wine and vintage,” added Chef Knoll. “I’m excited to continue working with Bricoleur’s beautiful wines, creating new and exciting pairings on a chef’s perfect playground.”
Chef Rebeca Robinson has been with Bricoleur Vineyards since 2020 and has advanced to the role of Senior Sous Chef. For the past two years Chef Robinson been immersed in both modern and traditional French technique under Chefs Bellec and Knoll, but Chef Robinson’s true love is creating exquisite and memorable pasta dishes. Chef Robinson was previously with Mayacama, Chalkboard, and Guy Fieri’s restaurants. As one of the founding members of Bricoleur Vineyards’ culinary team, Chef Robinson is proud to be a part of the winery’s growth and evolution.
“Our gardens, along with the farms and ranches near Bricoleur Vineyards, allow us to change our Perfect Pairings with the seasons. Now that I have experienced being part of the team here at Bricoleur Vineyards, I can’t imagine cooking without an award-winning garden right at the kitchen door. It’s inspiring and a constant reminder to cook in the moment,” said Chef Robinson. They are excited to continue their collaboration with the Chefs and the culinary team in their new leadership role as Senior Sous Chef.
Internationally acclaimed Chef Thomas Bellec will be Bricoleur Vineyards’ Culinary Director and will continue inspiring and collaborating with the team, which includes James Beard Award-winning Chef Charlie Palmer, Bricoleur Vineyards’ Culinary Advisor. Chef Bellec has been with Bricoleur Vineyards since 2022, following a sensational 23-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. In 2014, 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’m so proud of the way our culinary team works seamlessly with our winemakers and gardeners. It’s a direct reflection of the collaborative spirit we all share here at Bricoleur Vineyards. I know that all the chefs will excel in their new roles,” said Mark Hanson, Co-Founder & CEO of Bricoleur Vineyards.
Bricoleur Vineyards opened in the Sonoma County town of Windsor, just south of Healdsburg, in 2020 and in a short time has earned recognition for their Perfect Pairings. They were featured on The TODAY Show, and have been honored by USA Today as one of the 10Best New Wineries in the country. Bricoleur Vineyards is open Thursday – Monday, 11 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 away from both San Francisco and Sacramento airports. Bricoleur Vineyards is located at 7394 Starr Road in Windsor, California and can be found on Instagram @bricoleurvineyards. One-of-a-kind lodging is also available in Bricoleur Vineyards’ spacious Vineyard Residence.
A selection of hi-res photography can be found here, including several shots of Bricoleur Vineyards’ chefs; Co-Founder & CEO Mark Hanson; and various pairings at Bricoleur Vineyards.
About Bricoleur Vineyards
In Sonoma County’s town of Windsor, Bricoleur Vineyards serves Wine Country’s Perfect Pairings. The seasonally driven six-course Rooted pairing, three-course Soaring pairing, and Atelier Bricoleur are all pairings that guests never imagined. They’re crafted by Bricoleur Vineyards’ award-winning chefs, winemakers, and gardeners and they’re constantly evolving to reflect the seasonality of the estate’s internationally acclaimed, sustainably farmed culinary gardens. While guests explore Bricoleur Vineyards’ gorgeous Russian River Valley estate, enjoy the elegant wines at home with a recipe from one of Bricoleur Vineyards’ chefs, or join the Bricoleur team anywhere in the country for a “Bricoleur on the Road” event – Bricoleur’s allure lies in their incredible terroir that grows the best grapes, herbs, edible flowers, and produce imaginable. Guests gather, relax, and celebrate while building connections and communities around Bricoleur’s table.
Bricoleur Vineyards launched its first vintage in 2017 and opened its tasting room in 2020. It 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 Vineyards is known for their Perfect Pairings, created by their lauded chefs: Culinary Advisor, James Beard Award-winning Chef Charlie Palmer; Culinary Director, Chef Thomas Bellec – who’s been distinguished as a Master Chef of France by Maîtres Cuisiniers de France and spent 23 years with Four Seasons; Executive Chef Todd Knoll, who was previously with Jordan Winery and The Ritz-Carlton; and Senior Sous Chef Rebeca Robinson.
The winemaking team is equally talented: Bob Cabral was Wine Enthusiast magazine’s Winemaker of the Year in 2011; Cary Gott is a fourth generation winemaker who founded his first winery more than 50 years ago; and Tom Pierson is a rising winemaker who’s studying at UC Davis’ prestigious oenology program. Together, the chefs and winemakers collaborate closely to create Perfect Pairings that express the seasonality of the estate’s sustainably farmed culinary garden, which won Slow Food International’s Snail of Approval for growing good, clean, and fair food.
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. Co-Founder Sarah Hanson Citron is the estate’s energetic, creative, hands-on COO and leads many aspects of Bricoleur Vineyards’ business and the winery’s inventive offerings. Philanthropy is important to the Hanson family, and serving their community goes hand-in-hand with their warm hospitality.
