Benovia Winery
A 2002 bike tour through Sonoma’s Pinot Noir country sparked the idea for this beautiful winery in the heart of the Russian River Valley. Joe Anderson had a ‘watershed wine moment’ when Burt Williams poured him a glass of 1993 Williams Selyem Cohn Vineyard Pinot Noir. The Cohn Vineyard is the oldest Pinot Noir vineyard in the Russian River Valley. Profoundly moved by what he had tasted, Joe later purchased the vineyard. In 2006, Joe and wife Mary Dewayne, both healthcare professionals, co-founded Benovia.
The winery name honors the wisdom of their fathers, Ben Dewayne and Novian Anderson. Both men impressed the importance of working hard upon their children. Fittingly, ‘Benovians’ as the winery team call themselves, hold nothing back in their commitment to handcraft the finest possible single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. They bottle fewer than 8,000 cases per year, and this empowers them to take the time and care necessary for world-class wines.
Winemaker Mike Sullivan grew up tending family vines and began his career at Sonoma’s Chateau St. Jean at age 18. He later earned an enology degree, then delved into the mysteries of Pinot Noir at Hartford Family Winery before joining Benovia as a Co-Owner.
“This single-vineyard Chardonnay comes from the Martaella Vineyard surrounding Benovia Winery,” says Mike. “The vineyard is named after the mothers of Joe and Mary. The grapes were harvested by hand at night before being whole-cluster pressed. The juice fermented in French oak barrels with indigenous yeast and the wine was aged for 13 months in French oak (36% new). Visit the beautiful estate at 3339 Hartman Ln., Santa Rosa, CA 95401.
The fabulous wines we featured:
2015 Cohn Vineyard Sonoma County Pinot Noir
- 92 Points, Wine Spectator
- 91+ Points, The Wine Advocate
- Only 325 cases produced
Tasting Notes: Medium ruby in color with gorgeously intense aromas of meadow herbs, Queen Anne cherries, and intense mineral notes. Year after year, wines from this site have the hallmark of an ethereally floral aromatic quality, with sensual texture and an impressive length.
- Retail Price: $65.00
- Your Price: $62.00
2020 Martaella Vineyard, Russian River Valley Chardonnay
- 93 Points, Wine Enthusiast
- 90 Points, Wine Spectator
- 90 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Notes: Bursting with aromas of lemon blossom, white peach, and summer melon. The multifaceted aromas and dense mouthfeel are knit together by centered acidity and a long, complex white peach finish. Barrel fermentation and oak aging added hints of candied ginger, and baking spice to a subtle minerality on the finish.
Winemaker's Notes
2015 Cohn Vineyard Sonoma County Pinot Noir: Cohn Estate Vineyard, Sonoma supplied all the fruit for this wine. Planted in 1970, this spectacular vineyard produces small and compact clusters with painfully low yields of just over 1 ton per acre. Planted to a selection of Pinot Noirs (likely Martini 13 and Pommard), it is farmed organically and with minimal irrigation.
2020 Martaella Vineyard, Russian River Valley Chardonnay: All fruit for this wine came from the Martaella Estate Vineyard in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County. Clonal selection: 40% Montrachet Clone, 40% Old Wente Selection, and 20% Dijon 548.
Sonoma County
Joe Anderson and Mary Dewane
Mike Sullivan