Michael Chiarello is an award-winning chef and owner of critically acclaimed Bottega restaurant in the Napa Valley. From his earliest childhood experiences — created with his Italian family of butchers, cheese makers and ranchers — Michael Chiarello dreamed of becoming a chef one day. Decades later, he has made his mark, and then some. By combining his Southern Italian roots with the distinctive hallmarks of Napa Valley living, he has shaped his career into an acclaimed chef, highly-rated vintner, culinary & lifestyle trends pioneer, noted author, and Emmy-winning television host on Food Network and Cooking Channel.

Michael was named Chef of the Year by Food & Wine Magazine in 1985, just three years after graduating from the CIA. He received the CIA’s Chef of the Year Award in 1995, and was just named CIA’s 2011 Alumni of the Year. Michael’s books have received awards and nominations from both IACP and James Beard Foundation. In the mid-90’s, his specialty food innovations earned his olive oil business, Consorzio Flavored Oils, the Best Product Line Award at the International Fancy Food Show. After turning his enthusiasm for sustainability to his own vineyards in 1999, he created Chiarello Family Vineyards, and his small-production wines are consistently high-scoring. And since 2000, Michael has been the tastemaker behind the NapaStyle retail line of artisanal foods, kitchenware and home decor.

Michael has been a national television host of his own shows for over a decade on PBS, Food Network and Cooking Channel, and has also appeared on the highest rated food competition shows, Top Chef and Top Chef Masters. His Emmy Award-winning show Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello began in 2003 and airs daily on Cooking Channel. In 2009, he was a finalist on Bravo’s premiere of Top Chef Masters and makes an appearance in the 2011 season of Food Network’s The Next Iron Chef. A popular celebrity guest, Michael is a regular contributor to NBC’s The Today Show, CBS’s The Early Show, Martha Stewart Living Radio, Regis & Kelly, and the San Francisco Chronicle’s “Inside Scoop Voices” Column. He lives among his Napa Valley vineyards with his wife and children.