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Unreserved Wine Talk

Pioneer California Biodynamic Winemaking + 100 Adorable Sheep with Chris Benziger

·47 min·4 clips
What crucial role do 100 adorable sheep play in a pioneering California biodynamic winery?
The episode begins with host Natalie MacLean introducing the topic of biodynamic winemaking with Chris Benziger. She first shares recommendations for low and no-alcohol wines from brands like Giesen and St. Regis, and discusses a contest for listeners to win Benziger wines. Chris then joins, and they discuss his grandfather Joseph's bootlegging business during Prohibition, smuggling whiskey from Canada to New York. Chris describes his family's move from New York to California in the 1970s, led by his brother Mike's passion for wine. He details the Benziger property on Sonoma Mountain, a volcanic area with diverse soil layers he calls 'geological lasagna.' Chris recounts the chaotic first harvest where they used stolen milk trucks as wine tanks due to delays, and how they won awards at a county fair. He explains the transition to biodynamic farming in the 1980s, facing skepticism from conventional farmers. Chris discusses the environmental impact of chemicals like Roundup and how they adopted sheep, specifically Dorper sheep, to manage weeds and fertilize the vineyard. He describes biodynamic preparations, such as putting cow manure in horns to create plant probiotics, and how this benefits root growth. Chris also talks about using insectaries and habitat highways to attract beneficial insects, reducing pest pressure. The episode concludes with Natalie summarizing key takeaways and promoting related content.

As heard by us

A family winery story where geological layers and car headlights make biodynamic farming feel tangible.

Unreserved Wine Talk is at its best when Chris Benziger turns biodynamic wine farming into something listeners can almost feel underfoot. The Sonoma family property comes through in layers: basalt, red aggregate, welded tufa and breccia, all stacked into what Benziger calls…

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Why you'd press play

You get biodynamic farming, geological lasagna, and a first harvest held together by extension cords and car headlights.

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