About Benom
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BENOM is the phonetic translation of the French word binôme, which translates to “a project together.”
They are brothers, they are French, and for them making wine is a heritage.
Arnaud & Guillaume Fabre moved to California for love. For Guillaume, it was his passion for winemaking and farming without limits that brought him to Paso Robles.
This love led him to one of the most prestigious Paso Robles wineries, L’Aventure, and eventually to start his own winery, Clos Solène.
Arnaud’s story is much more like that of a movie scene. His move to California was to follow the love of his life, Chloe. This is how the two brothers -Les Deux Frères Fabre- ended up in Paso Robles.
The story gets far more interesting, but you will have to come find out for yourself!
As a tribute to the six-generation family legacy in the Languedoc-Roussillon and Bordeaux regions, BENOM harmoniously combines the freedom of winemaking in Paso Robles with the innate talent of the Fabre bloodline.
BENOM ESTATE
In September of 2023, the Fabre brothers accomplished their goal of acquiring an estate in York Mountain AVA.
This purchase fulfills Arnaud and Guillaume's long-term vision of expanding the BENOM brand.
BENOM ESTATE
In September of 2023, the Fabre brothers accomplished their goal of acquiring an estate in York Mountain AVA.
This purchase fulfills Arnaud and Guillaume's long-term vision of expanding the BENOM brand.
Winemaking
Every bottle of BENOM embodies the Fabre brothers' commitment to their French heritage and passion for Paso Robles. Their approach to winemaking is distinguished by the use of traditional Old World techniques and sustainable practices, incorporating the fruit and creative freedom of Paso Robles.
Winemaking
Every bottle of BENOM embodies the Fabre brothers' commitment to their French heritage and passion for Paso Robles. Their approach to winemaking is distinguished by the use of traditional Old World techniques and sustainable practices, incorporating the fruit and creative freedom of Paso Robles.
vineyards
BENOM sources fruit from the Adelaida and Willow Creek districts on the west side of Paso Robles as well as Edna Valley, Santa Maria, and Santa Barbara. Sourcing fruit allows BENOM a unique opportunity to create wine from a multitude of soil types and sub-climates.
vineyards
BENOM sources fruit from the Adelaida and Willow Creek districts on the west side of Paso Robles as well as Edna Valley, Santa Maria, and Santa Barbara. Sourcing fruit allows BENOM a unique opportunity to create wine from a multitude of soil types and sub-climates.
THE TEAM
Just as the brothers work perfectly together, so does their team.
Each member plays a vital role in the BENOM Family to create a perfect synergy.
Arnaud was born into a family of dedicated winegrowers and winemakers. Originally from Languedoc-Roussillon, Arnaud spent the majority of his youth in Bordeaux. He had an interest in the family business but found himself more interested in the operations and sales side of the wine industry. Arnaud began school at INSEEC University of Bordeaux, where he graduated with a degree in Wine & Spirits Business.
During his brother Guillaume's wedding, he met his wife Chloe, the daughter of Stephan Asseo at L’Aventure. Shortly after, he made the move to the Central Coast where he worked in marketing and operations at Law Estates Winery.
With Guillaume at the helm of the cellar and Arnaud leading operations, the two created the BENOM label together in 2015. In 2017, BENOM first opened its doors in Tin City.
Guillaume comes from a six-generation family of viticulturists and winemakers in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France. After 23 years in Narbonne, he followed his family to Bordeaux, where they had recently moved their estate. It requires extensive grape growing and winemaking experience to switch from one to the other, such as different climates, soil types, regulations, and more. In Bordeaux, Guillaume met and fell in love with his wife, Solène.
But life is full of surprises, and Guillaume was not convinced he wanted to make wine for his family’s estate in Bordeaux, so he took a harvest internship at L’Aventure in Paso Robles. The same bolt of lightning that he felt for Solène struck again. He fell in love with the soil and terroir of Paso Robles. What was supposed to be a three month harvest internship, turned into six months, and he was offered the position of Assistant Winemaker. While working for L’Aventure, he worked day and night on his own project – to launch his very own brand. In 2007, Clos Solène was born. After his brother, Arnaud, moved to Paso Robles, they opened BENOM in 2015.
Originally from Bordeaux, Aurelien comes from a generational winemaking family, the Castels. He moved to Paso Robles in May 2016 to work as a harvest intern at L'Aventure with Stephan Asseo and Guillaume. After falling in love with the style of winemaking in Paso Robles, Aurelien decided to stay on the Central Coast and worked as an intern at Justin Vineyards and Winery.
A longtime friend of the Fabre brothers, Aurelien joined the team as Assistant Winemaker for BENOM and Clos Solène in 2018. We are proud to have Aurelien overseeing all aspects of our production.
Following graduation, Connor spent a year in Santa Clara working in Chain Sales for EJ Gallo. However, his true passion for winemaking became evident, prompting him to make a career shift. After meeting with Guillaume and hearing the story of Benom and Clos Solène, Connor decided to return to the Central Coast and join the BENOM team as our inaugural Production Hand.
Vince is a native raised Paso Roblan, but despite this, he never actually fell in love with wine until he moved down to Santa Barbara to pursue a degree in chemistry.
Vince had every intention of going to medical school to study anesthesiology, but that changed when he picked up a weekend gig at Melville Winery in the Funk Zone of Santa Barbara. The intricacies of clonal selection and site-specifics that Melville specializes in fascinated him, and with his background of making hard cider in his dorm room (don’t tell his RA), wine was a dazzling unknown that he couldn’t wait to sink his teeth into. After a year at Melville, he decided to step into production, and in 2020, he worked his first harvest down in Santa Barbara County. After graduating from UCSB, he moved back to Paso Robles and worked three vintages at Epoch Estate Wines with the wonderful Jordan Fiorentini and also as the Tasting Room Lead for three years.
Vince received his WSET III Certification with Merit and is a Certified Sommelier, as well as a Certified Pommelier (someone who makes/knows about hard cider; he actually has a certificate for this). He loves collecting hobbies and frequently roasts coffee, brews beer and LOVES pulling a shot of espresso or making a pour over for whoever is willing to stay a while and chat.
Hospitality Maven, Storyteller, Plant Mom, Thrifty Fashionista, Food Enthusiast and Central Coast Lover!
Kim was born and raised in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, and it was there that her passion for food and beverage began one summer, working with an incredible chef. Catering, restaurants, private clubs and kitchens, breweries and wine tastings molded her. Fast forward to the fall of 2012, Kim had an invitation to join a small team for a harvest near Edna Valley, where she worked production with the team, while also providing the crew with wholesome, home-cooked meals daily. She came back the next year and worked another harvest, and decided to make a cross-country move and jump headfirst into the Central Coast wine culture.
Bio coming soon!
THE FAMILY
Arnaud Fabre, BENOM co-owner, founded Procure Wines in 2015 to find and share some of the most unique and rare wines in the world, with an emphasis on European wines. Arnaud has worked in the wine industry for over ten years and has built relationships with many producers and negotiants who share a passion for exquisite wines. Through Procure, Arnaud imports a variety of wines, from hidden gems to winemakers with a cult following, so that all consumers can discover their great find.
Guillaume, BENOM co-owner, and Solène Fabre chased adventure by moving to Paso Robles and starting a winery together. Guillaume promised Chloe that if she moved with him, he would name his vineyard after her— a promise he fulfilled when they started Clos Solène in 2007. With French roots and expressive Paso fruit, their wines are inspired by passion and love.
Lovingly referred to as the Godfather of French wine in Paso Robles, Stephan Asseo is an inspiration, mentor, and beloved grandfather. Stephan was the first of the "French Mafia" to establish Paso as his home. It was under his guidance that Guillaume Fabre, co-owner of BENOM, gained insight into the central coast's terroir, working as an Assistant Winemaker, while also crafting his own wines on the side. Today, carrying on her father's legacy, Chloe, who is married to Arnaud Fabre, co-owner of BENOM, assists in managing the esteemed family winery.
Translating to 'the little rascals' in English, Les Petites Canailles is a reflection of the three children belonging to restaurant owners Julien and Courtney Asseo. In 2019 Julien, Arnaud Fabre's brother-in-law, opened Les Petites Canailles (LPC), a French restaurant specializing in innovative and deliciously unique dishes complemented by an impressive wine selection spanning multiple pages of family-made wines.
Situated in the historic Saint Emilion of Bordeaux, Château La Rose Monturon is owned and operated by Stephane and Myriam Dubes, Chloe Fabre's uncle and aunt on her maternal side. Established in 2005, the winery focuses on enjoyable, terroir-driven wines.
Nicolas Fabre, the brother of Arnaud and Guillaume, BENOM's owners, serves as the head winemaker at Château Corbin. Under his guidance, the wines produced embody an essence of luxury and craftsmanship. Carefully tended vines, a meticulous selection of the grape bunches, and slow barrel aging are prerequisites in the Corbin method to ensure the longevity of its wines. Each vintage is a journey of its own, in which the senses travel to and fro between elegance and complexity.
FAMILY IS EVERYTHING
“To be close to your family is a gift. To be close enough with your family to work together and live life day in and day out together is a dream.”
-Arnaud Fabre