MICHAEL CHIARELLO’S LIFE AT A GLANCE
“Take something that everyone understands and present it in a way they could never imagine."
- Chef Michael Chiarello
2023 Based on its lasting reputation, Bottega has its biggest year in its 15 year history.
2017 Michael opens Ottimo, at Italian Eatery and Marketplace, in Yountville, CA, adjacent to Bottega.
2014-2016 Based on his love of cycling and his friendships with some of the world’s greatest cyclists, Michael creates the Bottega Gran Fondo, uniting chefs, cycling pros, enthusiasts, and winemakers around their love of food, wine, travel & cycling.
2013 Michael opens acclaimed Spanish hit Coqueta Restaurant in San Francisco, on Pier 5 Embarcadero, blocks from the Ferry Building.
2011 Michael receives The Culinary Institute of America Alumni of the Year Award, and competes on Food Network’s The Next Iron Chef. The Bottega Cookbook receives IACP & James Beard Award nominations. Chiarello Vineyards 2007 Eileen Cabernet receives 92 Points from Wine Spectator.
Michael joins the Lexus Culinary Masters
Michael appears at Emeril Lagasse’s Carnivale, Auction Napa Valley, Pebble Beach Food + Wine, NY Food + Wine, Aspen Food + Wine, South Beach Food + Wine, and the Napa Valley Film Festival.
2010 Michael becomes a contributor to Martha Stewart Living Radio and SF Chronicle Inside Scoop Voices column.
Michael Chiarello’s Bottega Cookbook is released, celebrating his Italian-inspired Napa Valley restaurant.
Chiarello Family Vineyard’s 2008 Giana Zinfandel receives 93 points from Wine Spectator.
Michael becomes a Delta Airlines First Class Chef
2000 - 2009
2009 Michael takes second place on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters and wins $30,000 for local charity.
Michael & his wife Eileen create Dirt to Dine, a farm-based culinary adventure camp for children
2008 Michael opens Bottega Napa Valley, in Yountville, CA to critical acclaim, including SF Chronicle (Three Stars, Top 100), Zagat (Best Newcomer), Esquire (Top 20), Forbes (Top 10), NapaStyle opened flagship store, across from Bottega, which includes Café & Wine Shop.
Michael is a host Chef at the 2008 Grammys.
2007 Chiarello Family Vineyard’s 2004 Eileen Cabernet receives 93 points from Wine Spectator
Chiarello Family Vineyard’s 2004 Bambino Cabernet receives 91 pts from Wine Spectator
2006 Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello (Food Network), wins third Emmy Award for Best Directing
2005 Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello (Food Network) wins two Emmys, including Best Host Emmy for Michael Chiarello
2004 Michael’s tv show Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello (Food Network) doubles its airtime in the popular weekend cooking block
2003 Michael launches two tv shows: Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello (Food Network) and NapaStyle (Fine Living Network) and aired one of highest-rated shows in Food Network history (Nov. 2003)
2002 Michael authors IACP award-winning cookbook, Michael Chiarello’s Casual Cooking. And became a Monthly Lifestyle Contributor to CBS The Early Show.
2001 Michael launches a new PBS show, Michael Chiarello’s Napa, and publishes coffee table format book, Napa Stories to celebrate Napa Valley icons.
2000 Michael launches his PBS cooking series, Season by Season filmed on location in his home & vineyards in Napa Valley. He created NapaStyle, a lifestyle retailer and its exclusive line of artisan foods, kitchen and home goods.
1990s
1999 Michael authors The Tra Vigne Cookbook.
1998 Michael bottles the first vintage of Chiarello Family Vineyards wine, which received 92-points from Wine Spectator. Michael receives the Robert Mondavi Culinary Award.
Michael participates as a Judge at the Bocuse d’Or Awards, CIA Greystone.
1997 Michael opens Caffe Museo in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and Tomatina in St. Helena, CA.
Michael is a Culinary Ambassador for the Napa Valley at The Mandarin Oriental with Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong/Bangkok)
1996 Michael publishes Flavored Vinegars: Cooking with Infused Vinegars Cookbook
1995 Michael receives the Chef of the Year Award by the Culinary Institute of America. He publishes Flavored Oils: 50 Recipes for Cooking with Infused Oils.
1994 Michael opens Ajax Tavern in Aspen, CO. He wins Best Product Line at the International Fancy Food Show for his Consorzio Flavored Oils brand.
1993 Michael is founder of San Francisco-based PanORama Baking Co.
Birth - 1980s
1986 Michael arrives in Napa Valley as Founding Chef of Tra Vigne Restaurant in St. Helena, CA.
1985 Michael receives the Chef of the Year Award by Food & Wine Magazine.
1982 Michael graduates from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY
1980 Michael graduates from Turlock High School in Turlock, California.
Jan 26, 1962
Michael Dominic Chiarello is born in Red Bluff, California