It takes a heart afire to nurture roots in rocky, sun-drenched soil through all forces of nature to a fruitful harvest. But to craft wines of uncommon character with a distinct sense of place commands the enthusiasm of an entire team devoted to a singular passion. At Benziger that team is a family, and their passion is Sonoma Mountain winegrowing.

Twenty-five years ago, Mike and Mary Benziger first drove up Sonoma Mountain and saw the overgrown ranch that would become Benziger Family Winery. They purchased the land with the help of Mike's father, Bruno Benziger, a wine and spirits importer from New York. A year later, Bruno and his wife Helen, along with their two youngest children (Chris and Kathy), moved west to help start the winery. Mike's siblings, Bob, Joe and Jerry Benziger and Patsy Benziger-Wallace soon joined the family in Glen Ellen. Today, more than two-dozen Benzigers live on and around the estate winery in Sonoma County and eight family members actively produce and sell Benziger wines.

Benziger's Sonoma Mountain estate was the first certified Biodynamic® vineyard in Napa and Sonoma. In addition to their Sonoma Mountain estate, Benziger sources grapes from a long established network of local wine growers.