2009 Benziger Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

Benziger Family Winery was founded in 1981 when Mike and Mary Benziger, then a young married couple, settled in northern California. Within a few years Mike’s father Bruno Benziger, a successful New Jersey wine and spirits importer, purchased property in Sonoma Valley to start a grape-growing and farming business. The family specialized in well-made but modestly-priced wines, and by 1985 they were producing 380,000 bottles annually. Eventually Benziger’s six other adult children moved west and joined the business. Their Glen Ellen and M.G. Vallejo brands were sold to Heublein Inc. in 1993. However the family also started a line of fine wines in the 1980s and today the 100-acre estate includes vineyards in the Russian River Valley, the Sonoma Coast, Sonoma Valley and Sonoma Mountain appellations. The estate is biodynamic and produces a broad portfolio of wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and blends. The estate is still owned and operated by the Benziger family.

Russian River Valley AVA is named for the river that meanders from Mendocino County in the north until it finally runs into the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco. The AVA is cool thanks to its proximity to the northern California coast and the river, and grape growers must learn to deal with regular fog. Nevertheless in recent decades the AVA has become one of the best in the state, meaning that its wines often earn excellent reviews and have considerable cachet. The AVA status was awarded in 1983 and today the appellation has 15,000 vineyard acres. Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape though Pinot Noir has also been very successful in recent decades. Russian River Valley Pinot Noir are known for being rich, lush and filled with concentrated fruit and berry flavors. Russian River Pinot Noirs are today considered some of the best domestic Pinot Noirs.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.