When Mike Benziger and Family first moved into their 85-acre vineyard on Sonoma Mountain in the 70’s, the experts (following the standard practices of the time) told him to get rid of all the natural things in the vineyard – like insects, weeds, and animals. But the land lost its “oomph.” Pesticides killed the insects…the birds flew away. It got very quiet, and the wine became…well, hit or miss. So Mike switched to biodynamic growing practices: planting vines with rootstalks long enough to reach a low water table; getting sheep to keep the grasses low, provide fertilizer (ahem!) and till the soil with each step of their hooves; and creating a wetland that cleans water like a kidney cleans blood. The land is alive again, and Mike won the Natural Resources Defense Council’s award for Water Stewardship. Mike says the wine now reflects the “terroir” of the property – where you can taste the soil and environment from where the grapes grew. So…do biodynamic practices work? We suggest you try the ‘09 Benziger Sauvignon Blanc to find out!