Côte Bonneville Winery

Estate Grown

Traditional Winemaking & Cutting Edge Science

World Class Wines

Winemaking Team

Winemaking Team

Our daughter, Kerry Shiels, is Director of Winemaking for Côte Bonneville.  Kerry received her Masters degree in Viticulture and Enology from U.C. Davis in August, 2009.  She has been immersed in our vineyard and winery since 2005, under Stan Clarke’s tutelage and Co Dinn’s mentorship.  After earning her Engineering degree from Northwestern University in Chicago, she worked for two years in Torino, Italy, in Fiat’s management development program.  She was transferred to Case New Holland world headquarters in Chicago, working there for 18 months before deciding to enter the world of wine.

Kerry worked the 2006 vintage at Joseph Phelps Vineyards in Napa, the 2007 harvest at Tahbilk in Australia, followed by the 2007 vintage at Folio, Michael Mondavi’s Napa winery.  During the 2008 harvest, Kerry served as the assistant white winemaker to Rich Arnold at Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa.

Coman Dinn served as our founding technical consultant, bringing a wealth of experience from wineries in California and, since 1996, in Washington.  A technically rigorous winemaker, he is also blessed with a remarkable palate.  His efforts are now devoted to his job as director of wine production at one of the largest wineries in Washington State.  Co earned a Bachelor’s degree from University of Texas, then his Master’s degree in Viticulture and Enology from U.C. Davis.

Stan Clarke directed the development of our DuBrul Vineyard from 1996 until his untimely death in November 2007.  At the time of his death Stan was the Viticulture Coordinator at the Walla Walla Institute of Enology and Viticulture.  During his 30 years in the Washington wine industry, Stan had performed every job imaginable, including viticulturist, winemaker, winery general manager, wine competition judge, and wine writer.  After graduating from the US Air Force Academy, he earned a second Baccalaureate degree from U.C. Davis in viticulture, then a Master’s degree in teaching from Washington State University.

Stan was the founding winemaker of Côte Bonneville. In addition to his extensive background on the winery side, he brought an impeccable palate, a focus on our loftiest goals, and his magical sense of humor.