The Wine: 2015 Benziger Chardonnay, Sangiacomo Vineyard, Carneros
- A vibrant, clear pale lemon color
- Appears medium bodied in the glass
- Clean nose with beautiful aromas of tangerine, candied citrus, and sweet orange marmalade
- This wine definitely has a tropical citrus vibe
- On the palate, medium acidity and medium bodied
- Flavors match the aromas of tropical citrus with an underlying zippy, spritzy quality and zesty acidity
- Very fresh with a hint of creaminess that rounds out the wine – probably from malolactic
- This Benziger Chardonnay is a lovely expression of the variety and representative of Benziger’s lively biodynamic estate
The Winery: Benziger Family Winery
Benziger is a family owned winery located on Sonoma Mountain in Glen Ellen, CA. Since 1995, the Benziger Sonoma Mountain estate has employed biodynamic farming practices and was officially certified biodynamic in 2000. The family truly respects the land they farm and believes in producing wines which honor the environment where they were grown.
Upon visiting Benziger in Glen Ellen, you can feel this love and respect for the land in the air. The property is one of the most beautiful, vibrant estates I have ever visited. There’s a certain sense of liveliness buzzing through the vineyards and a deep-rooted feeling of the estate’s ecosystem working in blissful harmony. My family and I visited Benziger on our Thanksgiving wine country getaway in 2018. We booked the property tour and wine tasting experience. I highly recommend you do the same for the opportunity to fully experience what biodynamic farming is all about.
Every wine in the Benziger portfolio carries a third-party certification of green-farming practices. All of the Benziger vineyards are either certified sustainable, organic, or biodynamic. If you’d like to learn more about these certifications and Benziger’s biodynamic farming practices, click here. Though I am partial to the Benziger Chardonnay, the winery produces a wide selection of wines ranging from Sauvignon Blanc to Cabernet Sauvignon. Benziger offers four wine collections at varying price points, so they truly have a wine for everyone.
The Region
The Benziger family currently farms four biodynamic estate vineyards throughout Sonoma.
De Coelo
- Sonoma Coast AVA
- Cool climate area where the vineyard experiences fog and high rainfall located 5 miles from the coast
- 400 – 600 ft elevation
- Soil types include Goldridge fine sandy loam, Kinman loam
- De Coelo vineyard produces Pinot Noir
Sunny Slope
- Sonoma Valley AVA
- Located in the eastern foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains
- Vines were planted over 30 years ago in fractured stone where holes had been pick-axed out
- The warmest of Benziger’s estate vineyards, located in Glen Ellen where the cool air is blocked by Sonoma Mountain, allows grapes to mature fully while maintaining a desirable low yield
- 300 – 500 ft elevation
- Soil types include gravelly clay loam
- The Sunny Slope Estate Vineyard produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec
Bella Luna
- Russian River Valley AVA along the border of the Green Valley AVA
- Located on the far east side of the Russian River Valley, Bella Luna experiences morning fog and the most rainfall of all the estate vineyards
- 700 ft elevation
- Soil types include Goldridge fine sandy loam
- The Bella Luna Vineyard is solely planted to Pinot Noir
Benziger Ranch
- Sonoma Mountain AVA
- The home estate ranch in Glen Ellen purchased by Mike Benziger and his wife over 30 years ago, which produced Tribute, the first Biodynamic wine from Sonoma and Napa counties
- The warm, bowl-shaped vineyard absorbs rain and reflects the sun
- 440 – 665 ft elevation
- Soil types include volcanic, Goulding clay loam
- Benziger Ranch produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel
Pairing Suggestions for the 2015 Benziger Chardonnay
- Citrus marinated grilled shrimp
- Oven roasted chicken with citrus and olives
- A winter citrus salad with arugula and goat cheese
- Baked chicken parmesan
