While in northern California for my brother’s wedding over Labor Day Weekend we had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Benziger Family Winery. And here’s the winery’s site but I should mention that I had to key in my birthday before I could view their site. Benziger winery is only a 30 minute drive from where my brother lived and we managed to get on the last tour of the day. We arrived in time for the penultimate tour, alas, there weren’t enough spots on the tram so we had about a 30 minute wait. While the rest of our group waited near the tram stop, my sister, my niece and I headed down the hill for wine tasting! So. Much. Fun!!!!
Our tram took us through the vineyards and stopped at particular places giving us wonderful views of the countryside and to give us more information about the Benziger vineyard and how wine is produced.
The tour guide talked about the use of biodynamic farming at the winery and we stopped at an example of this where native plants are used. Here’s more information on biodynamics from wikipedia:
Biodynamics has much in common with other organic approaches – it emphasizes the use of manures and composts and excludes the use of artificial chemicals on soil and plants. Methods unique to the biodynamic approach include its treatment of animals, crops, and soil as a single system; an emphasis from its beginnings on local production and distribution systems; its use of traditional and development of new local breeds and varieties.
We saw holding tanks and finally the caves where the wine is stored in mostly oak barrels. This was my second favorite thing from that day, the first being the wine tasting. I wish I could reproduce the fantastic aroma once you step inside the caves. Imagine being surrounded by the smell of old oak. It was divine!!
It was a gorgeous day full of sun and warmth and family. It’s a day I will never forget. If you’re in northern California do take the time to visit a winery, I was so glad I had this opportunity. If I’m in the area again I’m definitely going to go the Benziger winery.
travels with toby 
Looks like you had fun. My wife and I went to wine country many moons ago when we still drank and got snockered after so many tastings.
It was a lot of fun! The wine was very good too :)
Beautiful countryside even for tee-totalers…
And it was a gorgeous day!!!
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