Benovia Winery Welcomes Nick Finarelli
Author: Benovia Winery
Fresno State Grad Joins the Benovia Winemaking Team
Santa Rosa, CA (February 11, 2009) - Benovia Winery, a producer of
top quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay based in the Russian River
Valley, has hired enologist Nick Finarelli to assist winemaker Mike
Sullivan. As enologist, Finarelli will be responsible for
day-to-day winery operations, including bottling and harvest.
Finarelli has been an intern at Benovia Winery since August of
2009, and was hired on fulltime as of January 1, 2010.
"I've had the privilege to work with Mike Sullivan and the
Benovia team for around six months now, and have been very
impressed with what I have seen," said Finarelli. "At Benovia, I
see the groundwork being laid for something very promising. I
really like the style and direction that Mike Sullivan is taking
these wines, and I'm glad to have the opportunity to be a part of
it."
Finarelli started his career in wine at the bottom, beginning on
a bottling line at Amador County-based Renwood Winery. The
management was impressed enough to offer him a job in the cellar,
and within a few years he found himself Cellar Master. Driven to
succeed, Finarelli wasn't satisfied with stopping there. He was
accepted to Fresno State University, where he began study in the
viticulture and enology department. While at FSU, he
continued to learn the trade by working at Sunfire Estate in
Fresno, and studying abroad in Switzerland, Tuscany, and Burgundy.
He was the president of the Enology Society and was honored with
the Most Outstanding Undergraduate award from his program in his
senior year.
"Nick has shown me his drive and determination during his
internship at the winery," said Mike Sullivan, Winemaker and
co-owner. "His attention to detail and desire to grow has made him
a natural fit for my winemaking team. I'm glad to have a second set
of hands to help me make Benovia wines the best they can be."
Prior to being bitten by the wine bug, Finarelli worked briefly
in sports television. He is an avid outdoorsman. In his free time,
when he isn't hiking with his wife Jana, he can be found on the
links playing 18 holes.
He lives with his wife and newborn daughter Jordyn in
Forestville, California.
About Benovia Winery
Founded by husband and wife team, Joe Anderson and Mary Dewane,
and winemaker partner Mike Sullivan, Benovia Winery farms 71.67
acres of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel from estate
vineyards in the Russian River Valley. In addition, the winery
purchases fruit from four of the most noted vineyards in Sonoma
County, including Martinelli, Savoy, Dutton, and Peterson. The name
of the winery is derived from the owners' fathers' names, Novian
Anderson and Ben Dewane. For more information, interested
parties may visit the website at www.benoviawinery.com or call
(707) 526-4441.
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Contact Information:
Michael Wangbickler
Balzac Communications
Phone: (707) 255-7667
Email: mwangbickler@balzac.com
Twitter ID: @mwangbickler