About Benom

BENOM is the phonetic translation of the French word binôme, which translates to “a project together.”

Arnaud and Guillaume Fabre with a glass of wine

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.

Arnaud's family helping with the BENOM wine production
Chloe, Arnaud, Guillaume, Solène Fabre
Overview shot of the BENOM estate

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.

Overview shot of the BENOM estate

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.

A hand sorting grapes during wine harvest

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.

A hand sorting grapes during wine harvest
Rows of vines on a sunny day

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.

Rows of vines on a sunny day

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 Fabre at BENOM Winery

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 Fabre at BENOM Winery

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.

Aurelien Crouzet at BENOM Winery in Paso Robles

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.

David Richardson, Tasting Room Manager at BENOM
David was born in Boston and raised in California. He grew up in Los Angeles County and later raised his twins in Valencia, CA.

 

David brings 32 years of retail experience in Southern California. During the last eight years, he was exposed to the world of wine.  During this time, he developed a passion for small-production wines that tell a story of family and the unique terroir where the wine is produced. This passion inspired David and his girlfriend to move to Paso Robles in 2023.

 

Shortly after arriving in Paso Robles, David was given the opportunity to join the team at L'Aventure. This is where he met Arnaud and joined the BENOM team in January of 2024.
Ava Crouse - BENOM Marketing Manager

Ava grew up in Temecula and found her way to the Central Coast to study marketing at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Having grown up in a wine region and later immersed in the wine country of Paso Robles during her undergraduate studies, her interest in the wine industry began to grow.

 

After graduating with her Bachelor's, Ava moved to Nantes, France to teach English at a middle school and high school. Not quite ready to leave France, she extended her stay another year to earn her Master's degree in International Business Management in Bordeaux and intern in Content Marketing in Paris.

 

After her two years in France, Ava returned to the Central Coast fueled by a passion for the wine industry and a newfound appreciation for French wines. Soon after, she was introduced to Arnaud and joined the BENOM team in 2023.

Rachel Khan in BENOM Winery Paso Robles
Rachel was originally born in Canada and lived in France before moving to California at the age of eight. She fell in love with wine and hospitality while working in the restaurant industry. After frequent visits to the Central Coast during her time at university, she moved to Paso Robles after graduating with her degree in Communication from California State University Bakersfield.

 

Growing up in a family that values travel and cultural immersion, Rachel feels at home at BENOM sharing the legacy of the Fabre family with every guest. She continues to expand on her wine knowledge in and out of the tasting room and looks forward to continuing her journey with the BENOM team.
Tristan Hervouet at BENOM Winery Paso Robles

Originally from Western France in the Loire Valley, Tristan grew up surrounded by vineyards and wineries. Wine, however, was not his first passion. From a very young age, he was a basketball player and a coach, which was his first job. As he grew up, Tristan discovered a passion for gastronomy in general, which led him to return to school and pivot into the wine industry. During his studies, he worked in a wine bar and cellar on the outskirts of Nantes, enabling him to discover his passion for food and wine pairing.

 

After achieving a Bachelor's degree in International Trade in Terroir Wines and spending a semester studying in the Netherlands and learning about international wine regions, his thirst for discovery and new experience led him to Paso Robles. His dream is to work in a foreign country as an importer of French wines, sharing and promoting the wines of his country, friends, small producers, little-known appellations, and young winemakers.

 

Of course, his main goal will always be to promote the magnificent wines of his home region: Muscadet.

Connor Quiroz at BENOM Winery
Growing up in Fresno, California, located in the heart of the Central Valley, Connor has always been immersed in the world of agriculture. He pursued his education at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Wine & Viticulture. He dove into the working world with two harvest internships, one with Orin Swift in Napa and the other in Edna Valley, here on the Central Coast.

 

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.

THE FAMILY

Spanning from Paso Robles to France, the Fabre family is vast and interconnected.

Arnaud Fabre at Procure Wines

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.

Clos Solène Winery and vineyards

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.

L'Aventure Winery in Paso Robles

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.

Les Petites Canailles French restaurant in Paso Robles

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.

Chateau La Rose Monturon in Sant Emilion, Bordeaux, France

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.

The entrance to Chateau Corbin in Saint Emilion, Bordeaix, France

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