Why is Chardonnay the Winemaker's Grape + What a Family Brand Means with Chris Benziger

·41 min·4 clips

During the 2017 wildfires, Chris Benziger threw his best wine bottles into the swimming pool to save them.

This episode is part two of an interview with Chris Benziger, a winemaker from the Benziger family winery in Sonoma County. Natalie MacLean introduces the episode with questions about Chardonnay, biodynamic farming, and family brands. Chris explains the Flaming Hoops program, where family members must work outside the winery for five years before joining, to prevent nepotism. He shares a harrowing story of escaping the 2017 Sonoma wildfires, including saving prized wine bottles by throwing them into his swimming pool. The conversation shifts to wine tasting, starting with the Benziger Sonoma County Chardonnay, which Chris describes as balanced between oaked and unoaked styles, made with whole-cluster pressing and Hungarian oak. He then discusses the Running Wild Chardonnay, featuring a label with his cow Daisy and sourced from the Paicines region, highlighting its mineral and creamy qualities. Chris defines regenerative farming as an approach that replenishes soil beyond organic methods, contrasting it with biodynamic farming. He introduces the Tribute Cabernet, a wine honoring his family, made with American oak from Missouri and Paso Robles fruit. The episode includes a lightning round where Chris shares personal insights, such as his favorite childhood food (New York pizza paired with Pinot Noir) and who he'd share wine with (Thomas Jefferson). Natalie concludes with takeaways on Chardonnay, regenerative farming, and family brands, and promotes upcoming episodes and listener giveaways.

As heard by us

A grounded Chardonnay conversation about farming, family expectations, wildfire, and the influence of place.

Chardonnay gives Natalie McLean and Chris Benziger a useful route into the choices that shape a wine before it reaches the glass. They discuss biodynamic and regenerative farming, restrained oak, practical food pairings, and San Benito County, a less familiar growing area near…

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Why you'd press play

You'll follow Chardonnay from regenerative vineyards to family rules, wildfire memories, and the glass.

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