The Three Thieves

Get to know the Three Thieves, Charles Bieler, Joel Gott and Roger Scommegna. They go around the world looking for great wine, bring it home to America, put their own unique spin on it and sell it at prices considered a "steal."

Photo By: Scott Owens ©Scott Owens

Who Are the Three Thieves?

In 2001, Charles Bieler, Joel Gott and Roger Scommegna hit upon a brilliant thought. They realized there was an enormous excess of great wine being produced by premium wineries, and a flourishing market for quality wine at the $10 price point. The three of them go around the world looking for great wine. When they find it, they bottle it, bring it home to America, put their own unique spin on it and sell it at prices considered a "steal."

The First Thief

Joel Gott took his first stab at winemaking in 1996, purchasing eight tons of Zinfandel grapes from Amador County. "I made 600 cases, priced it at $15 and sold it instantly, due in part to good reviews from Robert Parker and Wine Spectator." The '96 Amador Zin put Joel's new wine brand, Joel Gott Wines, on the map. He's got an uncanny knack for finding good grapes that make fantastic wines for a great price. Here, he bakes bread in a wood-fired oven at a local asado in the Colchagua Valley during the Three Thieves' trip to Chile.

The Second Thief

Charles Bieler spent his formative wine business years in Provence, France, including several years at Chateau Routas. Bieler's history gave him an uncanny eye for innovation alongside a healthy respect for tradition.

The Third Thief

Roger Scommegna is a serial entrepreneur, connoisseur, grape grower and hotelier. His recent projects include upstart beverage companies Black Dot Vodka and Bite Hard hard apple cider and, of course, the Three Thieves.

The Thieves Go To Chile

The Three Thieves set their sights on Chile. Their mission: Find the wine that best represents the vast contrasting landscapes, cultures, foods and people of Chile, and bring it home in a bottle. Here, Charles navigates the streets of Valparaiso.

Valparaiso's Mercado Central

Fresh fruit and vegetables are for sale in Valparaiso's Mercado Central. Valparaiso is one of Chile's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the region.

Valparaiso's Mercado Central

The guys try some piuri and buy some conger eel from a local merchant in Valparaiso's Mercado Central.

Chef Joel

Joel steps behind the counter to prepare some sopa marina in Valparaiso's Mercado Central.

Valparaiso Harbor

Local fishing boats and Chilean naval vessels share the harbor.

Casa Lapostolle

Casa Lapostolle is a family-owned producer of premium Chilean wine. It was founded by the Marnier Lapostolle family from France and the Rabat family from Chile in 1994. Today, Casa Lapostolle is 100-percent owned by the Marnier-Lapostolle group.

Leyda Valley

Leyda Valley lies to the west of Santiago and was used primarily for wheat and barley production until 1997, when wine producers recognized its potential for growing grapes.

Leyda Valley

Joel visits with winemaker Natalia Poblete, from Terra Adina, about the potential for winemaking in the region.

Vina Del Mar

Charles checks out the surf and the locals in Vina Del Mar. Tune in to the Cooking Channel to get the full scoop on the Three Thieves' trip to Chile.