Our Story - Benziger Family Winery | Benziger Wine History
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Our Story

We are proud to tend our wines with the most eco-responsible methods available. Discover our journey in becoming certified sustainable, organic, and Biodynamic.

Our History

At Benziger, we're about three things: family, great wine and healthy vineyards. For more than thirty years, we've farmed our ranch on Sonoma Mountain and searched Sonoma County for the most distinctive and expressive vineyards. Once found, we tend these sites using certified Biodynamic, organic and sustainable farming methods. The result is a portfolio of authentic and memorable wines. Scroll though these photos to see some of the journey, or click below for a timeline of our family winery.

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1973

Newlyweds Mike & Mary Benziger drive west and permanently settle in Northern California.

1980

Mike and Bruno Benziger purchase the historic Wegener Ranch on Sonoma Mountain in Glen Ellen. They move in on Halloween.

1982

The four remaining siblings - Bob, Joe, Jerry, and Patsy, with their spouses make their way to California.

1986

Imagery Series introduced as a collaboration between Winemaker, Joe Benziger and Artist, Bob Nugent.

1995

Benziger Sonoma Mountain Estate transitions from conventional to Biodynamic farming. Five years later, in 2000, the Estate is officially certified as a Biodynamic Farm by the Demeter Association.

2001

Flagship wine introduced. Tribute becomes first Certified Biodynamic release from Benziger Sonoma Mountain Estate.

2005

“Third Generation” joins the family business when Mike Benziger’s son Buck is named Bottling Manager.

2006

All Benziger wines are certified: Sustainable, Organic, or Biodynamic.

2007

Mike Benziger & International Biodynamic Consultant, Alan York, are featured on the cover of the Wine Spectator.

2010

First Benziger of fourth generation is born

2015

Mike Benziger retires. Lisa Amaroli becomes Winemaker.

Present

Benziger celebrates our 20th anniversary of our Demeter Certification at our Sonoma Mountain Estate

The Benziger Family

The Benziger Family created this winery in 1980. We continue to carry this legacy onward.

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Chris Benziger

Brand Ambassador

Still in high school when the Benziger family moved from White Plains, Chris finished his senior year in wine country. He went on to earn a degree in marketing from the University of San Francisco while spending summers, weekends and every spare moment working at the winery. He officially joined the Benziger Family Winery in 1993 as a Brand Manager. In addition to sales responsibilities, Chris also oversees the home ranch and its many farm related duties, i.e. shepherding the Benziger flock of sheep and cows, tending to the estate vegetable and fruit trees, and producing the Biodynamic preparations for all our vineyards. Chris feels that the only way to communicate the quality of the wines he promotes is by having the soil from the vineyard in which he’s endorsing under his nails. The best impression a winemaker can leave on his wines are his footprints in the vineyards.