2004 Tribute
- AVA: Sonoma Mountain
- Vineyard: Benziger Estate
Tribute, a Bordeaux blend produced from 100% estate grapes grown at the Benziger Family Ranch on Sonoma Mountain, is the first Demeter-certified Biodynamic® wine from Napa and Sonoma counties and one of the first in North America.
Biodynamics is the highest form of organic farming in the world. It goes beyond the elimination of chemicals to represent a complete and wholistic system of agriculture that views the farm as a living organism intimately connected with its environment. The goal of a Biodynamic wine is not perfection, but rather to truly and authentically reflect the variety, vintage, place and passion of the people who make it.
WINEMAKING | Tribute was fermented with native yeast and went through malolactic fermentation in barrels during the winter in our underground caves. Blended early in its history, Tribute was bottled in May of 2006 after 18 months in French oak barrels (35% new barrels) and bottled unfiltered. The wine was aged for one year in the bottle before release in May - July of 2007. Enjoy it now (decanting will add to its enjoyment) but it will continue to develop over the next 6 to 10 years. It will easily age for 15 to 20 years under proper cellaring conditions.
VINTAGE | The 2004 vintage was one of the quickest, shortest and smallest vintages in many years. It started early and ended early. The growing season was uniformly warm and dry. The resulting wines have good concentration, beautiful aromas and are well structured.
BIODYNAMIC CERTIFICATION: Demeter is the third party certifier of traditional Biodynamic practices and the oldest such agency in the United States. Certification, the ultimate guarantee of tradition and purity in the production of agricultural products, is extremely difficult to achieve and must be renewed annually. Only wineries that have achieved the rigorous certification from Demeter can make any reference to Biodynamic practices and the certification will be marked with the Demeter logo. For more information on the certification process, visit www.demeter-usa.org
Biodynamics
The highest form of organic farming, Biodynamics takes a holistic view of the farm as a living organism. Homeopathic applications enhance soil vitality, biodiversity helps balance the ecosystem and a closed nutrient system allows a site to develop true terrioir. 3rd party certified by the Demeter Assoication.
Biodynamics at BenzigerOrganics
Organic grape growing avoids the use of synthetic chemicals and uses natural methods like crop rotation, tillage and natural composts to maintain soil health as well as natural methods to control weeds, insects and other pests.
Certified Sustainable
Benziger’s third-party certified-sustainable program is one of the most comprehensive of any single winery in the country. The program, which emphasizes environmentally sound growing methods, such as biodiversity, soil revitalization and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the first step in transitioning a vineyard from conventional to organic.
Certified Sustainablewines at Benziger
