Winemakers
At Benziger Family Winery, the winemaking philosophy is one of respect for the vineyard and minimal intervention with the wine. While less intervention would suggest less attention, in fact, it requires more. Our winemaking team brings an extraordinary depth and breadth of experience and artistry. And, much like our wines, the diversity of their individual attributes makes for a very successful blend.
Mike Benziger
Winegrower, General Manager and Tribute Winemaker
Crafting high quality wine from grapes that authentically represent his family's Sonoma Mountain vineyard estate is more than a passion for Tribute Winemaker and Winery Co-Founder Mike Benziger; it is his promise to the land that gave life to Benziger Family Winery.
"It's a life's work to make a wine that is ultimately connected with a place and the people who farm it," says Mike, who has never held a job outside the wine business. Growing up in New York, Mike worked for his father, Bruno Benziger, a wine and spirits importer. After college, he moved to California, where he got a job at the fine wine shop Beltramos. His appreciation for wine grew, and in 1978 he began a winery apprenticeship.
"I learned the wine business at the foot of the master," explains Mike. "I was fortunate to have great mentors. When you learn in this way, you learn more than information-you learn respect and reverence for wine and vine."
Inspired by this deep and enduring reverence for the land, Winemaker Mike Benziger crafts his newly released Tribute from Biodynamic grapes nurtured in his family's Sonoma Mountain estate vineyards. His goal is a wine made from classic Bordeaux varieties that reveals a profound sense of place and the passion of the winegrowing team.
Terry Nolan
Benziger Winemaker
Bliss is living and breathing his craft for Benziger Winemaker Terry Nolan. Like a true craftsman, Terry seeks to reveal the natural beauty in the raw materials of his art. Success is a wine with distinct regional and varietal personality.
Drawn to Sonoma County for its agricultural abundance and reputation for fine winegrowing, Terry moved from the Bay Area to the region nearly two decades ago. He learned his craft through apprenticeship, and by 1990, was prepared for the role of cellar master for the newly launched Benziger brand. In 1993, Terry was promoted to winemaker.
Today, Terry oversees the fermentations of every bottle of Benziger Sonoma County and Reserve wine. In his 10-year tenure as winemaker for Benziger Family Wines, Terry's wines have won hundreds of awards. But for him, pride comes from consistently improving the quality of Benziger wines through an unwavering commitment to experimentation and the help of his passionate winemaking team.
Having devoted the last 18 years to winemaking in Sonoma, Terry's enthusiasm for the region and extensive knowledge of its subtleties are reflected in high-quality Benziger Family wines with strong agricultural heritage.
Support Team
Terry Nolan and Mike Benziger are supported by a team that includes:
- Mark Burningham, Director of Grower Relations
- Marbue Marke, Associate Winemaker, Benziger Barrel Cellars
- Karen Ernsberger, Associate Winemaker, Port Specialist
- Bart Hansen, Assistant Winemaker, Benziger Production Team
- Lisa Amaroli-Strifler, Enologist/Assistant Winemaker, Benziger Production Team
- Ramon Benjamin, Enologist, Benziger Barrel Cellars