Biodynamic Wineries are something that I am still learning about and I was thrilled to have Benziger Winery host our most recent SonomaChat with their “Pinot Experience”.
Not only was the hospitality level at top notch but the whole event took place in the historical family home with Chris Benziger himself seated at the head of the table right below the bedroom where he was raised.
Pulling up to the winery was a wonderful experience, the drive in is quite lovely as are the many acres of landscape that surround the winery and tasting room.
Upon arrival, we noticed the biodynamic learning gardens and the car charging stations… all ready for your Napa Valley Tesla rental. For the sit down Pinot Experience, you are presented with an educational lecture on each vineyard and wine that you taste as well as presented with 4 lovely food choices to pair with these Pinots.
With small bites that used many local ingredients and even a terrific local fishmonger for the salmon, I enjoyed that the biodynamic farm not only restores natures balance in the way it treats the land but also balance in the local community support around the farm.
As Chris spoke about his father, Bruno and the passion of both his dad as well as brother Mike Benziger in creating an environment that focused on biodynamic practices, the family love and dedication to the land really showed. The family has been making wine for almost 30 years when many years ago, the family noticed a change in the land.
As Chris put it “It sounded and felt different. Animal noises and patterns had changed completely.”
This was what the family had noticed and what spurred on the change to Biodynamic to “restore nature’s balance” to the land itself. This has benefitted both the family and the wines of course producing a much higher quality product that can truly show the terroir and what the family land has to offer. My thanks to our Guest Hosts Amy Landolt, Sam Tesconi for their tweets & Chris Benziger for his stories as well as Jolene Patterson for planning the event itself.
I plan to return soon to experience many of the other offerings at Benziger and learn more about Biodynamics in general. From Cave Tours, to Food Pairings to Biodynamic Lessons – Benziger offers something for all people visiting Sonoma County’s Wine Country. And history to boot. Chin Chin…
THE BIO –
From the website Click HERE Benziger Winery–
At Benziger, we’re about three things: family, great wine and healthy vineyards. For more than thirty years we’ve searched Sonoma County for the most distinctive and expressive vineyards. Once found, we tended these sites using certified Biodynamic, organic and sustainable farming methods. The result is a portfolio of authentic and memorable wines.
Whether you’re planning a trip to our Sonoma Mountain winery or shopping on-line, you’ll like what we have to offer!
Our entire portfolio of Benziger wine is certified sustainable, organic or Biodynamic©. Not because we want to be known as “the green winery,” but because our experience has shown that great wine has green values. In our pursuit of fine wine, we follow agricultural, winemaking and business practices that are good for the earth and the vine, good for the farm worker and the farmer, and good for our colleagues and our customers.
In the mid-90’s, Mike befriended a man named Alan York who was one of the leading international experts on Biodynamic farming. In this ultra-organic approach, the vineyard is viewed holistically. Chemicals and artificial inputs are eliminated and natural balances are re-instated. With Alan’s help, we learned which flowers attracted the bugs we needed to keep pest populations in control.
Habitats were created for birds and owls, and we brought cows, sheep and chickens to live on the property.
Once the estate found its balance, the wines did too.
THE WINES –
Click Here for more on their Wines
UPCOMING EVENTS –
The Pinot Experience:
We welcome you to this exclusive, by-appointment seated Pinot Noir tasting where our Pinot Guides will take you on a journey from our Sonoma Mountain Ranch down the Russian River and out to Sonoma Coast. Your Pinot Guide will describe these regions and discuss the influences of location, clonal selection, vintage, and farming methods. Your tasting journey will validate why these areas produce some of the best Pinot Noirs of the world. The Pinot Experience is limited to 8 people, over the age of 21.
Benziger has a new room in the house that they are calling “The Library.”
It’s a great place to do a seated tasting of our top-tier wines and it is always open to the public for a tasting fee of $40.
We also make a point to open a library vintage in that room so our guests can try something aged that they wouldn’t be able to taste anywhere else on site.
Biodynamic Tram Tour Anyone – Get the word out that Benziger also has additional luxury and educational tastings with some really special, high-end biodynamic wines.
Ready to Taste?
READY TO VISIT? –
Explore wine tasting options including our new seated Pinot Noir tasting.
For private groups or parties larger than 10, please contact events@benziger.com or call 707.935.3017.
Benziger Family Winery: 1883 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen, CA 95442 | (888) 490-2739
Open daily from 10am – 5pm