4-14-10

BIO-DYNAMIC VINEYARD

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER 2-WEEK OLD BABY CALF

BARREL STORAGE INSIDE CAVE


We visited Benziger Family Winery today, the first Demeter-certified Bio-Dynamic winery in the US. We took an intimate tour with four other people and explored many parts of their winery, from the rolling hillsides where the grapes grow to their man made caves that house about 4,000 french oak barrels of fermenting/aging wine. By using grapes grown on their hillsides, the Estate wines reflect the unique terrior of Glen Ellen, CA. There is a complexity to their wines that is a result of the conditions of the vines. The rolling hills ensure sunlight, breeze, and temperature variations so grapes from vine to vine bring unique characteristics to the table and balance each other out nicely. The terrior combined with the biodynamic practices used at Benziger leads to very high quality and highly respected wines. They have won many awards and are consistently rated at the top of lists judged by Wine Spectator and Robert Parker.

Benziger is truly one of a handful of family owned and run wineries left in the US, as many of the Sonoma and Napa county wineries have been sold and are now run by large corporations. They implement a very hands-on approach and this labor of love seems to improve their grapes and therefore wines. Because Benziger family winery using lots of man and animal power and less machinery their processes are more time consuming. As a result their wines tend to be on the pricier side of the spectrum. TIme and again we are reminded that the most expensive wines almost always taste better than the cheapest wines. Of course there are inexpensive diamonds in the rough but expensive bottles almost never disappoint.

Mike Benziger was the man with a dream. He learned to make wines by working at wineries in France and California and with the financial backing of his father Bruno, a retired Scotch importer, they were able to purchase the property and create the winery that exists today. It's reassuring and inspirational to hear about people with dreams and passions who are able to make them come true.