Uninhibited by the centuries-old traditions that define the vinification of classic varietals, Joe Benziger finds creative freedom as a winemaker specializing in limited-production wines from uncommon vines. Purely inspired by the desire to make the best vintage possible, Joe crafts wines that liberate the palate and empower visitors at Imagery Estate Winery to discover that freedom has never tasted better. There are two classes of wines in the Imagery portfolio - the Vineyard Collection and the Artist Collection. A propriety Estate Bordeaux blend will be added in 2006.

The Vineyard Collection is comprised solely of select, single-vineyard wines, and showcases exceptional vineyards and their unique "sense of place" as expressed through site-specific farming. The more traditional varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel and Chardonnay are included in this select group of wines.

The Artist Collection is comprised of limited availability, uncommon varietal offerings, and showcases the uniqueness of the grower, the winemaker and the wines themselves in what the winery calls a "coalescence of the arts." Varietals currently include Barbera, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Sangiovese, Port, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Viognier, and White Burgundy.

Joe Benziger, who has made his life's work the cultivation of uncommon wines, makes no secret of his longtime love affair with the grand dame of red grapes Cabernet Sauvignon. Though made from a familiar variety, Joe crafts his vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignon from Sunny Slope Vineyard, a property contiguous with the Imagery estate. He believes the wine is every bit as unique as those made from rare varieties. "We make classic varietals like the Sunny Slope Cabernet Sauvignon, but the way it is farmed and made biodynamically is not conventional, and I think you can taste that in the wine."

Biodynamics® is a wholistic farming approach that was developed in the 1920s by Rudolf Steiner, the Austrian scientist-philosopher who developed Waldorf education. In 2005, the Demeter Association certified the 20-acre Imagery estate Biodynamic. The adjacent 40-acre Sunny Slope Vineyard, on which the Benzigers hold a 30-year lease, is in transition and will achieve Biodynamic certification in 2006.