Bernardus is named for its founder, Bernardus Marinus Pon. Born and raised in Holland, Pon was a professional race car driver for Porsche and an Olympic skeet shooter before establishing his estate in the Carmel Valley in 1989. Pons is an admirer of Bordeaux wines, and his dream was to establish a Carmel Valley estate that would equal the quality of great Bordeaux estates. Pon now owns 43 vineyard acres in Carmel Valley planted to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Bernardus makes several dozen wines including the signature Marinus Estate Blend. Dean De Korth, who apprenticed in Burgundy before working at some of Carmel Valley’s most renowned producers, has been winemaker since 2005. Matthew Shea is vineyard manager. Bernardus wines typically earn ratings in the low to mid-90s.