Dawnine Dyer, formerly Vice President of Winemaking at Domaine Chandon for more than 20 years and now the proprietor of Dyer Vineyards with her husband, Bill, has formed a partnership with Benchmark Consulting; a Sonoma-based organizational development and retained executive search firm that specializes in the wine business. Dyer's role with Benchmark will provide additional expertise on winemaker searches.

"When wineries need to hire a winemaker, retaining a search firm that has an internationally respected winemaker on their team gives you a clear edge, not only in identifying talented candidates, but also in attracting those candidates to the position," stated Patrick Wofford, Managing Partner of Benchmark. "We are delighted to put Dawnine's extraordinary winemaking expertise to work on our client's behalf."

Dyer brings an immense understanding of the art and science of winemaking to Benchmark's search process. Her experience improves Benchmark's ability to evaluate and communicate with candidates in areas of advanced viticulture and enology.

Dyer commented, "I'm pleased to expand my alliance with Benchmark Consulting. Benchmark already has a proud international track record of winemaker and senior technical placements. I believe that by incorporating a technical viewpoint in a search, Benchmark can be even more effective in making a seamless match between candidate and client."

Dyer went on to say, "What I'm looking for in the winemaker searches is to make sure that the client is getting a good addition to their team, that they understand their options and that their expectations are exceeded."

Dyer joined Benchmark's technical recruiting division in 2000, advising Benchmark on the technical areas of the wine business on both a domestic and international basis.

Dyer, along with her husband Bill, currently operates Dyer Vineyard, a small vineyard and winery in the Napa Valley. Dyer is past president of the Napa Valley Vintners Association and continues to serve on its board of directors. She was with Domaine Chandon from 1976 to 2000, serving as Winemaker and Vice President. A California native, Dyer graduated with a degree in Biology from U.C. Santa Cruz. She began her career in 1974 at Robert Mondavi Winery and went on to Inglenook Vineyards in 1975.

Benchmark Consulting is the leading organizational development and executive search firm in the wine business. A retained-based firm, Benchmark offers its clients keen insight and expert advice on the key players, accepted protocols and recent trends in the wine business. This enables benchmark's client companies to draw from an exceptional pool of candidates that they might not be able to find on their own. Benchmark specializes in sales, marketing, public relations, general management, and senior level financial searches. Headquartered in Sonoma, California, Benchmark Consulting is privately held. For more information about Benchmark Consulting visit www.benchmarkhr.com.