Benziger Family Winery Partners Tour -

A step above organic, this Biodynamic vineyard is a sight for sore eyes

Wine Spectator called Benziger’s tour “the most comprehensive vineyard tour offered by any winery in California.” Now I can’t speak to every single wine tour in California but I can confirm that Benziger’s Partners Tour is incredible. You take the trolley around the stunning Sonoma property and learn all about biodynamic farming, volcanic soil, reclamation ponds, owl boxes, and why sheep make the best vineyard workers. Our tour guide Cody was well versed in all aspects of wine making and even though my friend Sarah and I visited on a rather dreary day in December, Benziger’s beauty shone through.

Cody explained that while being biodynamic is a huge deal here in the United States, Benziger upholds many of the winemaking traditions that have been prevalent in Europe for hundreds of years. It’s clear that the people at Benziger care deeply not only about the wine but also the land. Call me crazy but I think you can taste the difference in the glass.

One of the highlights of the Partners Tour is the 20,000+ square foot cave. You get to see where the barrels are stored and even taste one straight from its oaky storage. Deep inside the cave is the neatest tasting room that’s a little bit Game of Thrones meets California wine country. My favorite wines that we tasted in the cave were the 2014 Signaterra Bella Luna Pint Noir (a fruity, full-bodied red that would be great with salmon), the 2014 De Coelo Arbore Sacra Pinot Noir (a rich, high end Pinot Noir that’s as bold as it is silky), and the 2014 Obsidian Point (an incredibly sexy dark fruit wine that I could drink all night long next to a roaring fire).

We had two whites during the beginning and middle of the tour that I loved so much, I’m about to place an order for my birthday: the 2016 Paradiso de Maria Sauvignon Blanc (this is so clear that it looks like water in the glass and goes down so easy) and the 2015 Signaterra West Rows Chardonnay. Now I know what my regular readers are thinking: she doesn’t even like Chardonnay! When I told Cody that, he said, “Well you’ve never been to Sonoma before!” This was hands down the best Chardonnay I’ve ever had. It’s really nothing like any other Chardonnay I’ve tried. I find most Chardonnays sharp and displeasing but West Rows is silky and lavish with citrus notes. Just divine!

Benziger has several different wine clubs for you to choose from, including white wines-only and red wines-only options. The wine clubs include special early access to new wines, tours and tastings, 20% off wines, and more. Learn about the wine club options here.

See the Partners Tour for yourself:

Benziger Family Winery is located at 1883 London Ranch Rd, Glen Ellen, CA 95442. Tours start at $30 per guest. Get information about tours and tastings here. Wines range in price from $19-$370 depending on the collection. Browse Benziger’s wines here. Visit www.benziger.com for more information. If you stop by, be sure to tell them The Rose Table sent you!