Benessere Vineyards

Tasting:

Open daily 10 to 5 pm by appointment
$10 tasting fee

Tours:

Tours by Appointment , Informal Tours

Price Range:

$25 to $60 per bottle

Established:

1994

Vineyards:

42 acres

Production:

8000 cases

Winery Dog:

Stormy (Newfoundland)

Benessere Vineyards Description

“Italy in Napa” is the theme of this boutique winery specializing in estate-grown, lushly flavored Italian varietals. The winery is located in a garden-like setting well back from the highway, and is definitely worth a visit.

Benessere is Italian for "well-being," and that is how the owners make you feel when you visit their off-the-beaten-path winery. Sangiovese is the predominant grape grown on their property, from which richly flavored wines with notes of cherry, sandalwood, and rose petals are produced.

Zinfandel and Merlot are also grown, along with small amounts of Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah used for blending. The soils are clay-loam with gravelly bands, which is perfect for these varieties. The warm climate of this area is very similar to that of Tuscany, where Sangiovese thrives.

The winery is located in a pastoral setting, where visitors are greeted by mature oaks and the estate vineyard. The newly constructed winery has a small courtyard leading into their cozy tasting room. The mood is relaxed and peaceful as you taste your way through their menu.

Wines produced include Aglianico, Pinot Grigio, Muscat, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Syrah, and a number of Italian blends.

Staff Knowledge & Friendliness

Amenities, Comfort & Cleanliness

Value

Wine Quality

Overall Impressions

Quite a Phenomenon
Cody, Laramie
I vote this winery the most difficult to remember how it’s spelled, but I don’t forget how great the wines are. Located just outside the lovely town of St. Helena, this is definitely not a place for the tourist wine drinker; this is for the experienced, educated wine drinker seeking excellent “new world” Italian varietals. Zinfandel, Syrah and Sangiovese can be obtained for somewhat cheaper prices elsewhere, but Benessere’s are more intense, more earthy, more fruity. They are reminiscent of the high-priced Italian wines with new world fruit. In fact, they coined the phrase Super Napan to describe their Phenomenon, (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Merlot, and Syrah) which is their excellent version of a Super Tuscan. We just had to take home a couple bottles of that. If you want to buy something lower-priced here, do as we did, and buy the BK Collins Old Vine Zinfandel. Its deep purple color tells you that it’s an intense zinfandel and must be paired with a weighty meat, not a fish or chicken. Benessere's only downside is that their tasting room is very small. The tasting bar is most comfortable with a maximum of 6 people at it, making it a bit tight if three groups are there at the same time.

Review Disclaimer

The above reviews are the subjective opinion of Winery Advisor members and not of Winery Advisor LLC.

Napa Valley » Benessere Vineyards

Benessere Vineyards

Benessere Vineyards Features

Benessere Vineyards Reviews