If you’ve ever been to a winery in Napa or Sonoma, you know the drill: Maximize your time at as many wineries as possible to take advantage of (i.e. get tipsy off of) some of the best wines in America.
If you secretly wish you lived among the organic grapevines in Northern California (ahem), however, when you go to wine country, you seek out the best-treated vineyards in the area to drink the best-tasting wine from the most naturally grown grapes.
I got to live the natural Northern California life a bit at Benziger Family Winery in Glen Ellen, California, over the weekend. I learned more about Biodynamic winemaking (and wine drinking) amongst a family of New Yorkers-turned-Northern Californians. It was an incredible experience. I stayed at the Benziger guest house, which is adjacent to Jack London State Park, and took in breathtaking views of the Sonoma Valley.
Sorry I couldn’t take you with me.
Here’s a few scenes from my weekend in case you feel the need to Photoshop yourself into my pictures.
While you’re doing that, be on the lookout soon for some more in-depth reviews of my wine country visit as well as individual reviews of Benziger wines. They’ll be up in the coming weeks!
{I stayed at the lovely guest house that is adjacent to Jack London State Park.}
{I took this photo from the deck of the guest house. I wish this is what I woke up to every morning!}
{The rolling hills and perfectly imperfect vines of Benziger were amazing.}
{During our tour of the property, we stopped by to visit the various animals that live at Benziger (jealous!). A basic principle of Biodynamic winegrowing is including native plants and animals — not pesticides — on the property to help nurture the ecosystem. This Scottish Highlander cow provides organic manure and, with a face like that, a little eye candy to cow lovers everywhere.}
{On another stop of our tour, we visited the medicine shed, where various Biodynamic herbs, preps and props are dried, stored and readied for the growing season. Here, herbs dry before they are integrated into Biodynamic preps and sprays that encourage healthy grapevines.}
{Upon arriving at Benziger, the teacher man and I had a picnic on the grounds and enjoyed some 2009 Bella Luna Pinot Noir. Everything that Benziger does on the farm is reflected in its wine. And let me tell you…the farm tastes pretty damn good.}
