Every wine in our portfolio carries a third-party certification of green farming practices. Whether the vineyard is certified sustainable, organic, or Biodynamic, it’s carefully tended with eco-responsible methods.
We don’t just farm this way because we believe that caring for the land is the right thing to do – it also happens to be the best way to make distinctive, authentic wines. By nurturing our vineyards and land, we’ll be able to make quality wines for many generations to come. And that is good for, well, everybody.
Crafted from grapes grown using holistic, regenerative farming practices that treat the vineyard as a self-sustaining ecosystem.
Made from grapes farmed without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, in harmony with nature.
Grown and produced with a focus on environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic viability for future generations.
Discover how animals and beneficial gardens play an important part in our Biodynamic® farming techniques and contribute to our vineyard’s ecosystem.
Founded over 40 years ago, our 85-acre Sonoma Mountain estate impresses with rustic beauty and sweeping landscapes, producing world-class wines without synthetic pesticides. As pioneers of Biodynamic® farming practices, we view our estate as a single living ecosystem, by inviting nature into the estate and honoring the connection of all living things. The land thrives on biodiversity, so we cultivate diverse plants, attract beneficial birds and insects, use natural preparations to nurture the soil, and raise sheep and cows among our vines. Through Biodynamic® farming, the best of what the land possesses is reflected in each of our distinctive, site-expressive wines.
Our sheep are an integral part of our Biodynamic farming practices, replacing the need for mowing, disking, and spraying herbicides. The herd happily nibbles their way through our estate vineyards, removing overgrown cover crops and aerating the soil – all while continuously depositing nutrient-rich fertilizer throughout the vineyard.
Our small herd of Scottish Highland cattle plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of our vineyard ecosystem. Their digestive systems efficiently recycle natural grasses from the estate, enriching the soil with organic matter and promoting its vitality. The presence of the cattle also helps enhance the overall balance of the vineyard, contributing to a tranquil and harmonious environment.
If you’ve ever taken our Biodynamic Tram Tour, then you have probably seen our insectary. This colorful and vibrant garden is home to over 250 unique flowers and plants that attract beneficial predatory insects and animals to our estate, helping us to maintain healthy, thriving vineyards through natural pest control. We grow a variety of fruits, vegetables, and plants throughout the year, as well as the plants and herbs used in our Biodynamic preparations including valerian, chamomile, yarrow, and stinging nettle.
You’ll find dozens of owl boxes and bluebird nests throughout our vineyards. Birds are vital to Biodynamic agricultural practices, as they naturally prey on smaller animals that can be detrimental to the vines. They help carry seeds and pollinate the hundreds of plants growing throughout the estate, contributing to the biodiversity of the estate.
Olive trees are one of the many crops (other than wine grapes) thriving at the estate. Olives tend to grow well in the same climates and soils as wine grapes, and our home ranch is no exception — we have over 900 olive trees. Naturally, we produce an exceptional Estate Biodynamic Olive Oil from the annual harvest, which is only available in our tasting room.
We farm each of our Estate vineyards using Biodynamic methods. Not only because caring for the land is the right thing to do, it also happens to be the best way to make distinctive, authentic wines.
estate vineyards
The Benziger family has been growing grapes on Sonoma Mountain for over 40 years. In the late 70s, Mike Benziger and his wife, Mary discovered the incredible property that would become the family’s estate winery and home purchased it with the help of Mike’s parents, Bruno and Helen. Soon after, all seven Benziger siblings were living on or close to the ranch as New York transplants in Sonoma Valley.
In the mid-90s, we began transitioning the home ranch to a Biodynamic farm. We learned which flowers attracted the bugs we needed to keep pest populations in control. Habitats were created for birds and owls, and we brought cows, sheep and chickens to live on the property. Once the estate found its balance, the wines did too. From our home ranch came Tribute, the first Biodynamic wines from Sonoma or Napa Counties.
Today, we are proud to be living and working on a healthy, vibrant ranch that is home to numerous species of plants, animals and insects and we love sharing this special place with visitors from all over the world.
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Located in the eastern foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains, in the Sonoma Valley, Sunny Slope Vineyard’s vines were planted in holes pick-axed out of fractured stone over 30 years ago.
The deep roots – a result of maturity and years of laboring for water – combined with the warm southwestern sun exposure, produce thick-skinned grapes which give us the concentrated flavors, inky color and extracted tannins that distinguish this vineyard. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc thrive in the rocky soil of the Sunny Slope Vineyard; as the vines expend most of their energy reaching deep into the ground for water, the vigor of the vine is held in check. This warm Glen Ellen location allows our grapes to grow to full maturity while maintaining a desirable low yield.
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On the far East side of the Russian River Valley, just on the border of the Green Valley AVA lies Bella Luna, one of our four Estate Biodynamic vineyards. Bella Luna is planted with 100% Pinot Noir vines, and with its rolling hills, surrounding pine trees and bright, clear nights, it’s no wonder that we named this special place “Bella Luna” which means “Beautiful Moon.” Year after year, the fruit at Bella Luna Vineyard produces well-balanced Pinot Noir with bright acidity and soft tannins.
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Our de Coelo Vineyard is located just five miles from the Pacific Ocean. We’ve farmed this site for over 20 years, establishing it as one of the first Biodynamic vineyards in the region. The breathtaking estate rises from 400 to 600 feet elevation, providing distinctive climate and altitude differences for the clonal selections nurtured at each block. The small lot Chardonnay, Pinot Noirs and Pinot Noir Rosé crafted from de Coelo are distinct expressions of the vintage, varietal and terroir of this exceptional vineyard.
Following the Burgundian model for farming Pinot Noir, we tend 3 individual blocks at this 22-acre property, crafting distinct expressions of the grape. Each de Coelo Pinot Noir is named with a mystical Latin name in homage to the unique, ethereal quality of the terroir.
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harvest party
Saturday, October 4 | 2-5pm
Celebrate the harvest season with delicious wine, tasty BBQ, and fun activities for all ages.
