Our Team

It has been said that success breeds success. This has been clearly exemplified in the career of Michael Bello. Emphasizing the correct mix of hard work, quality materials and high standards of production, Michael founded a residential construction company which has grown to become the largest enterprise of its type in the Southwest, with 12 locations and over 4,000 employees. His business savvy has further extended his success through the acquisition of restaurants and several commercial properties. Contributing to this success has been the support of his wife Nancy and his two adult sons Stephen and Christopher.

Michael’s remarkable achievements in the construction industry have enabled him to pursue his lifelong passion for winemaking, the wine business and the Napa Valley lifestyle. In 2000, determined to produce a premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Michael purchased a piece of prime real estate located on St. Helena Highway in the Napa Valley’s Rutherford Bench district, known for its superior wine-growing conditions and excellent drainage.

Once the ideal location was obtained, Michael set about constructing a French farmhouse with materials imported from France, incorporating details that had never been seen before in the Valley. The quest to produce a quality boutique Cabernet Sauvignon had now been set in motion.

While construction of the farmhouse was underway, Michael began the search for a winemaker and a farm manager. His love of French wine led him to the accomplished and highly acclaimed winemaker Aaron Pott. In keeping with his pursuit of excellence, Michael teamed Aaron with the acknowledged preeminent farmer in the Valley, David Abreu. With the guidance of these top professionals, Michael purchased only the best grapes from local wineries, obtained the highest-quality winemaking materials and demanded strict adherence to superior winemaking techniques. The result is the success embodied in the Bello Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon.

Aaron Pott’s curiosity in wine began at the young age of 9 when he ordered a glass of wine in a venerable Parisian bistro. When the waiter responded—in halting perfect English—that “milk is for babies” and promptly produced a glass of watered down red, Pott realized that wine was a beverage of choice for adults
and immersed himself in the world of wine trivia.

Studying oenology at the University of California, Davis, Pott delved into all aspects of the theory of winemaking, including practical application by working part-time in the research laboratory at Robert Mondavi Winery. He completed his education with a master’s degree in Viticulture from the Université de Bourgogne in Dijon, France.

Pott immediately took the position of assistant winemaker at Newton Vineyard, under winemaker John Kongsgaard. It was at Newton—under the wing of his first great mentor—that Pott would be introduced to Michel Rolland. At many tastings with Kongsgaard and Rolland (set up by legendary wine collector Dade Thieriot), Pott tried to convince Rolland to find him a job in France—pulling hoses around a dark cellar and working on his language skills. Rolland soon sent word that he had found the ideal position—winemaker at Château Troplong Mondot, Premier Grand Cru Classé St. Emilion. Pott would thereafter become winemaker and general manager of Château La Tour Figeac Grand Cru Classé St. Emilion.

Pott worked for nearly six years making wine in France before returning to the States to take a position with Beringer Wine Estates. As a winemaker for the company’s international brands in France, Italy and South America, he had the pleasure to work with French winemakers Jean-Louis Mandrau, formerly of Château Latour and André Porcheret, whose resume included the Hospice de Beaune and Domaine Leroy. Pott’s duties expanded in 2001 as winemaker at St. Clement in St. Helena. In 2004, he accepted the position as winemaker and general manager at Quintessa.

In 2007, Pott formed “Huis Clos Wines” and is dedicated to consulting for a limited quantity of notable producers as well as making wines of his own.

Pott lives at his self proclaimed “Châteauneuf du Pott” on the dizzying heights of Mt. Veeder with his wife Claire and daughter Tosca.

David Abreu, a third-generation rancher from St. Helena, California and graduate of the Viticulture and Enology program at UC Davis, founded Abreu Vineyards in 1980 after working briefly at Caymus Vineyards. That year he formed David Abreu Vineyard Management, working with pioneering winemaker Richard Forman to manage ranching operations at Inglenook Winery.

Abreu and Forman became friends and traveled frequently to Bordeaux, where they observed French winemaking operations. They brought back French rootstock, trellis designs, and Bordelais planting and farming techniques. Abreu's fame spread as other wineries hired Abreu's company to plant and manage ranching operations. By 1999 he was considered the premier viticulturist for premium grapes in Napa Valley. Abreu's company has raised grapes for some of the most respected wineries in Napa and Sonoma Valleys including Blankiet Estate, Bello Family Vineyards, Acacia Vineyard, Staglin Family Vineyards, Jones Family Vineyards, Bressler Vineyards, Colgin Cellars, Pahlmeyer Vineyard, Sloan Estate, Bryant Family Vineyard, Fisher Vineyards, Oakford Vineyards, Araujo Estate Wines, Grace Family Vineyard, Viader Vineyards, and Harlan Estate, among others. In 2006 Abreu was hired to replant vineyards at Screaming Eagle Winery and Vineyards.