The Inimitable Wines of Mike Benziger

Posted on May 8, 2015 by - Winery Accolade

The Organic Food Guy Blog, April 27, 2015, By Jeff Cox

“I’ve known Mike Benziger, who runs Benziger winery in Glen Ellen, California, with the help of many family members, for about 25 years at least. I watched with interest as he went organic and my interest picked up further when he went Biodynamic. In Biodynamics, the farm is looked on as a living organism with many parts, kind of like a beehive. The idea is to get the nutrient cycles spinning through recycling. Carbon, nitrogen, calcium, and all the other building blocks of the living creatures on the farm come from and return to the compost pile, which recycles their nutrients by fertilizing the soil, which grows the plants that we eat and the animals that participate in the farm’s ecology.”

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One Of California’s Best $20 Cabernet Sauvignons

Posted on May 8, 2015 by - Wine Accolade

Forbes, May 8, 2015, By Katie Kelly Bell

“Benziger Winery has been in operation since 1980 and it remains one of the few family-run wineries in California. Yet, what most impresses me about Benziger isn’t their legacy of family-run winemaking, but their full-on commitment to doing the right thing in terms of agriculture. In fact, they are among a select group of Demeter Certified biodynamic producers in the United States. Everything they farm is treated carefully, and every grape they use is either organic, sustainable or biodynamic—which means no small amount of hard work given the size of this winery. They also know how to make a wine that delivers for the buck, which is kind of a big deal in my book. The 2012 Benziger Cabernet Sauvignon is one of those wines.”

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db Green Awards 2015: The winners

Posted on April 23, 2015 by - Biodynamics, General Sustainability, Winery Accolade

The Drinks Business Magazine, 23rd April, 2015, by Patrick Schmitt

“The model of sustainability represented by Sonoma’s Benziger Family Winery is largely the result of one man’s vision and contagious energy. As part of his desire to ensure a healthy legacy for future generations, Mike began converting the family estate to biodynamics in the mid-90s. Today the estate is a haven of biodiversity and offers a training ground for other producers to improve their environmental footprint, with Mike hosting an annual “Hot Topics” seminar to encourage sustainable practice in the vineyard. His commitment to this cause has extended to investment in transformative technology such as NDVI mapping, soil moisture probes and weather monitoring stations. Together these systems have enabled Benziger to address California’s severe water shortage by converting some of its vineyard blocks to dry farming. Since 2007 the producer has implemented a third-party certification programme that offers incentives for its growers to adopt sustainable practices. To-date this initiative covers around 4,000 acres across Sonoma County and offers a prime example of Mike’s determination to raise not just his own standards but those of the entire industry.”

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Top wine picks for Earth Day

Posted on April 22, 2015 by - Wine Accolade

Dayton Biz Blog, Apr 22, 2015, By Don Baker

“When it comes to wine, one of the most important things is the land where the grapes are grown. It is agriculture after all, and so I thought Earth Day was a great time to offer up some recommendations for wines that are earth friendly.

Benziger Sonoma County Chardonnay 2013 — Every Benzinger wine carries a third party certification of green farming practices, showing the commitment it makes to the earth. This California white wine is a great value in Chardonnay from Sonoma County and offers up aromas and flavors of peaches, apples and pears. It also has a hint of citrus. It should cost about $16.

Benziger Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 — This is another Benzinger wine that is Green Certified, but also packs a punch of flavor. This is a fruity red with loads of cherry, blueberry and plum flavors and aromas. It also has hints of spices. It should cost about $20.”

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Earthy and Earth Friendly

Posted on April 22, 2015 by - Wine Accolade

Bottlenotes, Four California Wineries that are Making a Difference, April 22, 2015
“The Benziger family has been practicing biodynamic viticulture at their Sonoma estate since the 1990s. Today, all of their estate vineyards are certified biodynamic, and all their wines are either biodynamic, sustainable, or organic. Visit the property, and you’ll likely encounter sheep and cattle, both important contributors of vineyard “fertilizer.” The BENZIGER “Sonoma County” Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 (Sonoma, California) $20 is rich and gratifying (and a steal, too).”

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What to Drink Now: Earth Day Wines

Posted on April 20, 2015 by - Wine Accolade

Benziger

Dallas Dining News and Reviews, Side/Dish Blog, By Hayley Hamilton Cogill, April 20, 2015

“The Benziger family follows the belief that they are stewards of the land, so each parcel of fruit they farm has to live up to the highest quality standards, as well as being good for the land. Working with a combination of biodynamically, sustainably and organically certified vineyards on their Sonoma estate they manage to produce varietally correct, quality wines, that for the painstaking management given to the vines, maintains a relatively affordable price. Benziger Sonoma County Chardonnay is fresh, juicy and lively, a great patio white wine for summer. Filled with stone fruit flavors of apricot and peach, layered with juicy citrus, golden apple and pear, a food friendly wine that will please any Chardonnay lover. $16, available at Total Wine and More.”

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